This week I am grateful for…

196. Friends and Family

197. Electricity

198. Working Out

199. Kind Stranger

200. Apple Picking

#196: Family and Friends

Today’s post looks a little different from the others, and there’s a good reason! I recently shared my blog with friends and family, asking for their feedback, and they didn’t disappoint. One of the best suggestions was to change the heading to reflect the actual date, and I’ve also decided to number my gratitude moments—starting at 1 and ending at 260 by the end of the year thanks to their feedback.

I just want to take a moment to thank each of you who took the time to fill out my feedback survey. Your insights and support mean the world to me. I’m truly grateful for my family and friends—you guys make everything better!

#197: Electricity

This week, I had one of those crazy, packed days where I needed to squeeze in my daily meditation and charge my phone before a full schedule of chores and errands. Luckily, I had my fast charger with me, so I found a quiet spot to meditate while my phone powered up. By the end of my 30-minute session, I was fully charged—both physically and mentally—and ready to tackle the day.

That moment made me reflect on how convenient electricity is now. Growing up in Kitale, Kenya, we didn’t have electricity at home, and my siblings and I would have to travel into town every few days just to charge cell phones. We used phone sparingly, mostly for important calls and texts. In a way, I miss the simplicity of those days, but I’m also incredibly grateful for the ease and comfort that reliable electricity brings to my life today.

#198: Working Out

I recently joined the YMCA, and wow—it’s been a total game-changer! Their functional training classes are intense, challenging, and exactly what I needed to push my fitness to the next level. What’s even better is the sense of community that comes with working out alongside others. The collaboration in those classes makes me look forward to each session, even if my legs and chest are still sore as I type this!
I’m thankful for this new chapter in my fitness journey and for the YMCA community that’s helping me grow stronger every day.

#199: A Kind Stranger

While at the mall this week, my partner realized she’d misplaced her phone. Cue the panic—we had been to so many stores, and we had no idea where it could be. Just as we were about to give up hope, she had the idea to call her phone. I dialed, and after a few rings, just when I thought we’d be sent to voicemail, someone picked up!

It was a stranger who had found the phone and, get this, he waited for us to come all the way back to where we’d left it. His patience and kindness in that moment were so refreshing. To that kind stranger, if you ever read this: thank you. You reminded me how wonderful people can be.

#200: Apple Picking

This week, I went apple picking with friends for the second time this season, and it was just as magical as the first. There’s something about being out in nature, picking fresh apples straight from the tree, and enjoying moments of laughter and connection with the people you love. We indulged in warm cider donuts, sipped apple cider, and even spent time with some farm animals. It was the kind of day that felt like a perfect snapshot of Fall—filled with joy, warmth, and memories that will last. Here goes one pic from the occasion.

I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and for the friends who made it so special. Here’s to more days like this!

What are you grateful for this week?