Friday Dispatch: 50 to 50

The end of a decade draws nigh

Friday greetings,

Since tomorrow will be 50 days until my 50th birthday, I’ve decided to share 50 things I’m grateful for. Here we go…

1. Walking

2. Sunshine

3. My parents’ health and proximity

4. Being friends with my sisters

5. The fact that my kids are friends with each other now 😍

6. Intergenerational conversations

7. Memes that make me laugh from people who get me

8. Affectionate teasing that stops short of meanness

9. Our local Jewish community

10. Shabbat Neimah (“musical Shabbat”)

11. Teachers and mentors and guides

12. The seasons and, this time of year, the crisp air

13. Cute squirrels wearing bunny slippers

15. Generosity – on both the giving and receiving ends

16. Hanukkah shopping :)

17. Reading books that help me better understand myself

18. Reading books that help me better understand others

19. Naps under cozy blankets

20. Talismans and symbolism and new ways of seeing

21. Dog zoomies

22. Writer friends who are so generous with feedback

23. Mani’s daily countdown to their thesis defense (20 more days!)

24. The miracle of the body and how a thousand things are happening at all times that I don’t even have to think about

25. Planning a NYC trip with Aviva in December to celebrate her college graduation (!)

26. Pearl showing me photos from his fall adventures in Maine so far

27. Today’s news of a ceasefire and hostage exchange (and prayers that this is the beginning of more of the same)

28. Twinkle lights, especially during daylight savings

29. Alchemy and transformation

30. Friendships across space and time

31. Notes of appreciation from readers

32. Notes of kindness from past and current clients

33. The way the houseplants come back to life after I water them

34. Reframes and mantras

34. Morning pages

35. Meditation and fleeting glimpses of peace

36. Unexpected gifts (like this marvelous vintage-book collage from a beloved member of one of my long-term groups)

37. Did I mention dogs?

38. Work where I get to support people in bringing more of themselves both to writing and life

39. Little me and how joyful she was/is and how loving on her reminds me that all of us have a little person inside of us

40. Recognizing that the imagination can both expand and shrink my world, and the power to choose accordingly

41. Wordplay and conversations about language and metaphor and meaning

42. When my love comes up behind me while I’m washing the dishes and gives me a spontaneous squeeze and shoulder rub

43. Thursdays with my mom

44. My dad’s “daily ha” emails

45. Having learned a thing or two

46. Knowing how much I don’t know

47. Works in progress everywhere and how pleasing it is when you start to see glimmers of something that looks impossible starting to take shape

    

48. Music and art and how these belong to all of us

49. Little kindnesses

50. You!

Shabbat Shalom and love,

Jena