gratitude

I've just finished a book about the science of human goodness, which covered all sorts of topics from how to build a more compassionate workplace to the importance of empathy in our relationships. Another topic was gratitude--its impacts to personal health and happiness and to society as a whole. As the essay suggested, cultivating gratitude tends to encourage good deeds, which in turn encourages more good deeds! Studies have shown that simply seeing one stranger help another stranger triggers positive emotions and a desire to do good deeds.

A list of things I'm grateful for at the moment:
1) a warm home for these cold rainy seattle days
2) being in good physical and mental health
3) owning a bicycle that allows me to get around for free, get exercise, and have fun
4) having a loving, considerate, and creative boyfriend
5) having a full-time job that i enjoy
6) changing shifts at work so that now i can cook dinner again and see my friends more!
7) wonderful friends who i can still remain close with even when weeks pass between us seeing each other
8) food trucks
9) finally being financially comfortable
10) getting to grow my own food! I have 14 seeds planted in tiny pots (and more to come!) that will turn into seedlings and then plants and then FOOD!
11) a supportive family who will always be a safety net for me
12) public libraries!