post-irene gratitude

i am grateful for:

1) irene being gentle on nyc. despite it being a “category 5 media event” and a “whorricane,” i’m glad to have been prepared, and glad to have been spared. and now i have lots of quinoa, popcorn, pasta, and rice to go with soup, sardines, and spices. not bad. oh and it not destroying too many businesses or homes or our transit system, also good.

2) making a “what’s bothering me” list. i haven’t made one in a while. i woke up sad and cranky and feeling isolated and lonely, so decided to write out every little thing this morn. it doesn’t fix everything, but it does make visible what might be a smoke monster to be stared down and felt into and what might be remedied with an action step. and also gives me a moment of: “wow honey, for someone without a full-time job you have a lot going on, i understand why you’d feel overwhelmed sometimes.” self-compassion. yeah, that. i caught myself this morning when i heard a few sentences in my head begin with “no one.” as in “no one understands…” any “always” and “everyone” and “no one” is a red flag for me to get real, because they’re simply not true and indicate that someone inside me is throwing a tantrum. so, the list is a way to find out who and why. helpful.

3) cayuga organic beans–more hurricane food and what i just had for breakfast with quinoa, arame, sesame oil, and himalayan salt. num.

4) the unbelievably delicious post-storm air. it’s cold, but it’s so fresh and so clean-clean!

5) my sweets making it home safely saturday eve. whew. and also that i didn’t have to fret alone, having isolated myself voluntarily, stupidly. (oh, well, i guess it didn’t seem stupid at the time, but in retrospect, i shoulda just gone with the man. oh wells.)

6) facebook in a storm.

7) my new acupuncturist. i heart moxa!

8) pink pens.

9) electricity. thanks, mr. edison!

10) bend & bloom’s last minute we’re-having-two-classes email yesterday. yessss. post-storm yoga was packed in the slope. and very nice.

11) dinner with d & j & b. i love that brooklyn restaurants were mostly open last night. (that doesn’t mean you, bareburger!)

12) the gray bodgea kitten across the street. just a moment of kitteh love was sweet and deeply comforting.

13) not having to commute.

14) root canals healing, if slowly.

15) getting my interim driver’s license! yeah! it was just a renewal after a loss (that of course required three hours at the DMV), but now i can start taking (GULP) driving classes for people who know how to drive but hate it and suck at it. woot!

16) long hair. it’s such girlie fun.

17) love.