Monk and Interfaith scholar Brother David Steindl-Rast has a wonderful Ted Talk (below) about the link between gratitude and happiness. As 2013 winds down I thought it was important to inventory some of the highlights from the year.
I am thankful for
- My family and friends (new and old)
- Life and physical and mental health
- Getting into great graduate schools with multiple scholarships, and having the luxury of picking the best fit
- The chance to be in a great intercultural/racial relationship where I grew so much and ending up with a friend when it didn’t work out
- Finding terrific tenants for my house and income property
- The opportunity to travel to Nigeria for my cousin’s traditional wedding
- Sipping champagne at polo matches with my lovely friends
- The opportunity to mentor promising young women in foster care and the juvenile justice systems with Junior League
- Memorial day weekend in NYC and going to the Hamptons with my MLT peeps
- Brunch outside at the Omphoy and drinks at the Breakers HMF
- Lazy Sundays on Peanut Island
- Getting fantastic roommates in Evanston and cheap rent
- Roadtripping alone from West Palm Beach, FL to Evanston, IL
- Going to the Canary Islands for KWEST
- Learning from brilliant professors and classmates
- Attempting 3 case competitions- failing each time and learning loads in the process
- Getting to know the 2nd year students and absorbing their institutional knowledge
- Fall Ball and trolley rides
- Getting the classes I needed for Winter Quarter
- Spending Thanksgiving with a warm family
- My ankle length winter coat for those cold Chicago winters
- Passing all my classes
- RV trip from Evanston to Denver
- Ski Trip in Breckenridge and Vail
- Christmas with my family
When I go through the list I realize what an amazing year I have had and I know I am probably missing some epic moments.
I hope that 2014 will be even better.
Nourishing Nneka 