July 31, 2024

I am thankful for…

1. Being part of multiple communities, some of which I have built, managed, or nurtured. When I was younger, I used to say I was a “social butterfly” who had many peer groups instead of only one. When tragedy struck in one of those groups (because it inevitably happens), I always felt lucky to have others, who were disconnected from the group, to support and guide me. When you only have one community, tragedy hits so much harder because that group is all you’ve got. As I age, and tragedy strikes more frequently, I’m truly grateful to be part of many communities.

2. Intense periods of work. When the work is true and fun, it’s rewarding to put in extra time. It’s also fun to learn about how those periods made an impact several years later.

3. Adventuring in my home town. From a canoe ride, free library programs, a tech week film screening, and cultural museums, to restaurants and networking events galore, the city of Chicago is an amazing place.

If you’re new here

I decided to challenge myself to publish my personal writing more, starting January 2024. From pausing to deliberately reflect to getting more disciplined about creating for myself, I jumped into this goal. For a little more on this journey, check out my first public Gratitude Journal entry.