thankful thursday.

Some days just suck, don't they? And sometimes not for any particular reason. I was feeling that way yesterday - stressed about school, worried about finding a job and making money, and definitely missing the west coast and feeling a little homesick. I didn't really want to do a Thankful Thursday today but I knew that that was exactly what Thankful Thursday is for: to find the good when you're feeling a whole mess of not-so-good. So I thought about my week and about the little things that are worth remembering and this is what I came up with.

• Every morning, on the way to my teaching internship, I pass the same old man who wears a newsie cap and walks with a slow determination. Every morning he looks up to make eye contact with me and smile. That small effort always makes me smile back and makes the morning feel a little more glorious. 

• Umm, I skyped with my dad last night. You guys need to understand: my dad doesn't know how to set up a movie in the DVD player, how to turn on an iPod, or even how to sign into Facebook. He is the most technologically incompetent individual I've ever met. My stepmom, however, had someone set up Skype on his computer because she and my little brother Sam are away in Lebanon for several weeks. Seeing my dad's face on my computer last night was a sign of hell freezing over, I swear. But chatting with my dad "face-to-face" is so wonderful and I can't wait for Sam to return to California so I can harass him through Skype too. 

• Last night, I was coming home from dinner at a new Ramen restaurant (Nick went into the city to meet a friend who was in town) and I saw a bunch of kids outside the laundromat next door. They are there almost every night because their parents work in the laundromat. They were playing jump-rope and were so silly and giggly that it was hard not to giggle back. Something about innocent childhood youth makes me nostalgic but also reminds me that we choose whether or not we want to maintain that sort of effortless happiness in our lives.  

• Nick knew I was feeling glum last night and we were having intermittent text conversations while he was out. I couldn't NOT feel better when I glanced at my phone and saw these two texts: 
• "Life sucks sometimes. But at least we have each other to eat ramen with. :)"
• "I'm happy with us. Very happy. I love you now more than ever."

• Lastly, this blog. Amongst all the work I feel like I need to be doing, it is such a safe haven to run to the computer and share some of my thoughts through this creative outlet. I stopped keeping a journal almost two years ago but this blog continues to be a space where I can regroup, talk to myself, and reflect on the things that keep me going. I don't know who or how many people read this blog but at the end of the day, this blog is for me and only me, and on days like yesterday, I am so thankful to have it. 

Happy Thursday, everyone. I hope your week has been good and I hope your weekend is even better.

xoxoxo