I appreciate:

• The impromptus visits from my dad lately. What a nice little break in the work day! (Mom (Carol), tell dad not to worry — I bought some Earl Grey decaf so I’ll be prepared next time!)
• Clean socks.
• Joyce, at Target. She is such a bright light and has such sweet energy. She makes a routine errand so much more fun.

I appreciate:

• Toaster tongs. What a clever idea.
• Online Scrabble, Bitwordy, WWF. So nice to geek out with my wordy friends and watch the snow coming down. Cozy. (And yes, I do have great sympathy for everyone who has to drive in it this morning. I am sending you cozy vibes, even though you might not feel ’em.)
• Huge, stretchy yawns. Wow that feels good.

I appreciate:

• Having clean hair. Some days, it’s just the little things, you know?
• Warm, sunny day. High was around 30º today. Heatwave!
• Watching The History of Future Folk with Katie & Ryan. Goofy and nerdy and sweet.

I appreciate:

• Timmy, for not only being a completely wonderful friend, but also for encouraging me to write songs. I still really like some of ’em – especially the e e cummings ones!
• Today’s sun. I always appreciate sunshine, but some days more than others. Today is a more than others day.
• My lovely clients who keep sending me referrals — to other lovely people! How did I get so lucky?

I appreciate:

• Optimism. I don’t really blame myself for being in this sort of negative space right now – last year really did throw us a lot of curve balls and we’re still digging out. It makes me super grateful for the feeling that every day I’m turning a little bit more toward hope and peace, becoming a little bit more my old self. Thank you, optimism!
• Friends of all kinds who have supported, helped, tolerated, encouraged, validated, understood, and loved me. You may not know it, but that silly thing you said/kind word/big hug/beaming smile/sly wink you gave me the other day/week/month is still holding me up and making my life better.
• My Mary Poppins coffee this morning, which turned out practically perfect in every way.

I appreciate:

• Pam, for appreciating me today. That was a fun thing to read this morning!
• Sarah, for being willing to brave the cold and come hang out with me. What a wonderful morning!!
• Gluten-free muffin mix spruced up with apples, pecans, and cinnamon. Yummers. See, I AM a baker!

I appreciate:

• My laptop. I use it (well, it plus the internets) for everything from work to planning to connecting with friends. What an amazingly useful and wonderful tool! Plus it’s silver and shiny.
• My phone, which I dropped on the floor (really hard) and which, after a moment of blankness, kept right on working. Phew.
•  A “warm” day for doing errands.

I appreciate:

• Patrick, for coming to help me finish cleaning at HUGE when my back did a little spasm-y thing and got wonky.
• The kids, for doing all the carrying and picking things up while my back is wonky.
• Heating pad and stretches for helping un-wonkifiy my back.

I appreciate:

• Jammy-work-at-home days. This blustery winter makes them especially welcome.
• Tea in so many varieties – what a nice way to get through the day. Earl Grey in the morning and Tazo Passion in the afternoon.
• Stove, clean running water, heated house, warm clothes – all these things that help me to have my beautiful, cozy day.

I appreciate:

• Finding things! After losing an earring (one of my new favorites that I’ve been wearing every day) amidst hats and coats and scarves and such the other day, I was super excited to find it when I went out to the car in the morning!
• Hats and coats and scarves and such. Treacherous terrain for earrings, perhaps, but nice for keeping head and ears toasty.
• Sun sun sun sun sun. If we have to endure the cold, at least we get to see sunlight — and for more minutes each day, too!