In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on 99 random things I am grateful and thankful for. I self-admittedly am not great at living in the moment — I’m busy thinking about the next client’s wedding, and find myself constantly thinking about future moments and events.

But right now, I’m going to stop and be grateful for what I have right here, right now. Here is my list, in no particular order! 

1. An extremely loving husband who supports me unconditionally 
2. Industry friends that inspire creativity, are trend setters, and there for me when we all need a moment to talk shop 
3. Incredible clients who have trusted me 100% with their day
4. My loving family 
5. Books that you get lost in for hours 
6. Having the drive to succeed
7. The leaves changing colors 
8. Friends both near and far who pick right back up where we left off without missing a beat
9. Living in a community of such strong and resilient individuals. 
10. Brave individuals who stand up for what they believe in and advocate for those less fortunate or for those who do not have a voice
11. Having a cozy home
12. Random acts of kindness from strangers 
13. Wet nosed puppy kisses
14. Endless opportunities to seek truth and knowledge 
15. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust 
16. Children’s toothless smiles 
17. Making a difference in someone’s life 
18. The comfort of sleeping next to someone you love 
19. The hours hundreds of people spend protecting our wildlife 
20. Unconditional love 
21. Travel and the opportunity to see different cultures all around the world 
22. Those who serve our country 
23. The relaxing sound of wind blowing through palm trees on the beach
24. Volunteer opportunities 
25. Snowboarding through fluffy powder snow 
26. Those who lead by example 
27. A healthy body 
28. Science 
29. Community leaders 
30. The opportunity to attend school 
31. Amazing photography that captures perfect little moments 
32. Early morning sunrises
33. The way the Internet connects people from around the world 
34. Music that feeds your soul  
35. Pillow Talk 
36. Environmental activists 
37. Almond Milk Lattes 
38. Imagination 
39. Medicine – modern and traditional techniques which both have their place 
40. Velvet 
41. Perfectly lined up bookshelves 
42. Commitment 
43. The shock your body feels jumping in a cold lake that all you can do is laugh about it
44. Green energy 
45. Weekend Getaways 
46. My two adorable kitties 
47. Morning light that shines in at just the right angle 
48. Laughing so hard it hurts 
49. Therapy workers helping veterans 
50. Paper Source 
51. The feeling of sand running through your fingers 
52. Freshly squeezed lemonade 
53. A really good sweat while working out 
54. Aromatherapy candles 
55. Accountants  
56. Our beautiful planet 
57. The boundaries that artists push 
58. Dog memes…and memes in general for the comedic relief they provide
59. Crisp crunchy Fall leaves 
60. Modern plumbing 
61. Children’s laughter 
62. Constructive arguments that open both speakers eyes 
63. Underwater photography and videography to get a glimpse into the life of the majority of our Earth 
64. The comfort of my mom 
65. Giving the perfect gift to a friend 
66. Color – all of them and their shades and tones 
67. My family’s support 
68. Documentaries that teach you something new
69. Flowers as big as your face
70. Random solo-dance parties in the middle of the living room  
71. Netflix (and chill) 
72. Emotional capacity
73. Views from mountaintops 
74. The calming sound of rain delicately falling on the roof and windows 
75. Reconnecting with old friends 
76. Breakfast in bed 
77. Female empowerment 
78. Family dinners 
79. Lazy Sundays 
80. Watching someone’s face light up when they’re really really happy 
81. Brisk cool walks 
82. Deep conversations with friends and loved ones 
83. My nieces and nephews health
84. Symmetry 
85. Getting through moments that are so difficult and coming out feeling empowered and stronger 
86. Perfectly ripe fruit picked straight from the plant
87. Learning something new 
88. Being able to do what I love every day and calling it work 
89. Summer camp 
90. Sunsets so beautiful they make you cry 
91. Really good macaroni and cheese 
92. Cozy nights by a fireplace 
93. Teaching someone something new 
94. Animal sanctuaries 
95. The images that have two pictures hidden within and play a mind trick on which one you see first
96. Endless inspiration at every turn 
97. Helping someone in need 
98. Discovering old photographs and memories that had been forgotten 
99. Being anywhere in the world with the one you love and feeling like home 

This was a really good exercise.  At around number 25 I debated going only to 50 because I was having trouble coming up with things that I felt “sounded good” to be grateful for.  But once I got over myself and decided it didn’t matter what they were or what they sounded like, as long as I was truly thankful for them, then they all started to flow much more quickly.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!