This week I am grateful for…

216. Mindfulness and Community

217. First Comments on my Blog

218. Fall Festival

219. Spotting Bald Eagles

220. A Lesson in Generosity While Driving

#216: Mindfulness and Community

Over the past month, I’ve been attending an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course at Brown University. It’s been a truly transformative experience. Each week, we dive into deep, meaningful conversations that leave me feeling enriched and connected. Our instructor is so knowledgeable and inspiring, and the community we’ve built in the class is something I’m deeply grateful for. It’s a reminder that growth happens not just in the quiet moments of reflection but in sharing that space with others on a similar journey.

#217: First Comments on My Blog

I started this blog in December 2023 with a simple goal: to create and share content from the heart. Last month, I took the leap and shared it with friends and family, inviting their suggestions and feedback. They had such thoughtful and creative ideas for making it more engaging! I felt so grateful for their support and took their advice to update older posts and refine new ones. And this month, something wonderful happened: I received not one, but three comments on my October 13th post! Your support means the world to me—thank you for being a part of this journey!

#218: Fall Festival Adventures 🍂

Last weekend, my partner and I went to an apple festival at Mount Wachusett in North Central Massachusetts. The weather was picture-perfect: 70 degrees, sunny, and not a cloud in the sky. The festival was buzzing with energy, and since parking was a bit of a walk, we decided to skip the shuttle and walk the ten-minute trail instead. The walk was magical, with breathtaking views of the mountains and vibrant fall foliage. We spotted birds along the way, taking in the crisp air and golden hues.

Some festival highlights? Sipping on warm apple cider, meeting a llama and two delightful alpacas, enjoying a sky ride, and exploring a marketplace filled with unique vendors. Here is one photo I took that does not do the view justice at all…

There’s something special about these moments that remind you of the beauty of this Fall.

#219: A Double Bald Eagle Sighting

Speaking of beauty, I had not one, but two unexpected encounters with bald eagles this week! The first was on our walk to the fall festival. At first, I mistook the eagle for a turkey vulture until I saw its unmistakable white head and tail. I was so excited that I pointed it out to a few nearby people, and we all paused to admire its graceful flight.

Later that day, on the drive home, another eagle crossed our path about 20 minutes from home. I am grateful for nature as it has a way of giving us these fleeting, magical moments that leave a lasting impression.

#220: A Lesson in Generosity While Driving

I had a bit of a revelation this week during my morning commute. I was running late and, as usual, it seemed like the universe was throwing every slow-moving car in my path. When the driver ahead of me stopped at a yellow light we both could have made, frustration almost took over. But instead, I caught myself. I took a few deep breaths and made a choice: compassion over irritation.

What followed was unexpected. The energy of the commute shifted. I even let someone merge in front of me, which felt liberating. And to my delight, that person passed the kindness along by letting another car merge later. My morning turned into something less stressful, and in the end, I was actually on time. Talk about karma!

Weekly Spotlight

This week, I wanted to share a powerful quote from 10% Happier by Dan Harris:

“Make the present moment your friend rather than your enemy. Because many people live habitually as if the present moment were an obstacle that they need to overcome in order to get to the next moment. And imagine living your whole life like that, where always this moment is never quite right, not good enough because you need to get to the next one. That is continuous stress.”

If you are interested in learning how to live in the moment, check out Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction at Umass Memorial or at Brown University.

What are grateful for this week?