Maybe I just have article idea fatigue, but it has become a mini tradition for me to think about things I’ve been grateful for at the end of each year. Some people have a daily gratitude practice, which is very admirable, given gratitude’s positive impact on wellbeing, however, I would say that my gratitude practice is officially happening yearly, while unofficially I like to recognize things to be grateful for as they arise organically for me. And on that point, I think gratitude is a practice that can be natural and fluid and not just a canned exercise to do when one is feeling crappy, although that wouldn’t necessarily hurt, either.

As I have done in past years, I don’t like to review past gratitude lists, just to see what arises for me spontaneously when I’m writing and reflecting, the results of which may or may not be similar to previous years. And I like to think of specific things, rather than general concepts, as I find that it feels more personal and more real. And yeah, I don’t like to order my gratitude list by importance, either, because that just feels like it’s too much work, and gratitude foci and importance can change day to day. Rather, a smattering of off-beat things work for me because I am a now-unapologetically off-beat person. So maybe you get to know me a bit better if you choose to read this.

Accessibility Technology

I can’t say enough about how my hearing aids’ bluetooth capability has made such a difference in easing hearing strain when doing virtual sessions. With clients’ voices piped directly into my hearing aids, I can relax and attend naturally, like I was trained to do. And my mini table microphone, for in-person sessions, also linked to my hearing aids, makes it possible for me to continue to meet with people in-peron. I highly recommend these options to other hard of hearing therapists.

Connecting With Friends

Although I’m definitely not looking for praise, I hope my friends would agree but I have been making more efforts this year to reach out, something I have historically not been great at. My tendency is to become like a little turtle at the end of the day and retreat into solitude. But every time I do something with a friend, have a rich conversation, or have a delightful text exchange, I never regret it.

Learning

I have always liked reading non-fiction, particularly anything related to mental health, but this year I feel that I have upped my game, with the help of my web developer, in creating the Book Nook. I can’t say that I add one book every month, but I’m pretty close to that and I’m so glad to be reading more. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever go back to fiction and there’s a part of me that’s curious about reading something just for leisure next year – a simple idea that just might work, if I’m willing to let go of my patterns!

My Favourite Recipe App

I may have mentioned this in a previous article (?) but my love affair with the AnyList App is still going strong. I learned about it in a training I was doing for ADHD and it it reduces executive function burden significantly, by eliminating annoying online recipe ads and by doing other things like making meal planning and grocery lists a breeze, and facilitating easy access to favourite recipes. For someone that cooks as much as I do, I am truly thankful.

A Flexible Walking Routine

I am walking significantly more than last year, and I am loving it. It was important to me to ensure that I include all manner of walking: dedicated walking, errand walking, transportation walking, walking around my home etc. and to make sure that I gave myself the freedom to skip a day if it involved walking on a day that was truly inconvenient or where the weather conditions were very poor. I’ve been liking it so much that I have even invested in a no-fluorescent reflective vest for nighttime walking which makes me feel old but hey, I am headed in that direction so why not accept reality + do it for my safety?

Paying for Quiet

Well, I’m hardly a big spender when it comes to travel—Galiano Island (Swiikw) is the farthest I got this year, which is similar to most years—but this year I accidentally bought an upstairs seat on the Hullo Ferry to Nanaimo and I entered an oasis of quiet. And I’m not looking back! I also got a tip that BC Ferries has a private lounge for a modest charge and I’ve got my eyes on that option for next year. I’m only on a plane about once every 15 years so I’m not thinking business class at this time but I will continue to look for spaces where I can have less noise and decreased stimulation, which helps me so much!

Shifting Parenting Roles

My eldest hit 20 this year and I feel like I’m definitely in a new phase of my parenting journey, which I can honestly say, is pretty neat. I’m not sure yet what it means to parent adults but I am enjoying seeing the cool and independent things that my children are doing in the world, and the ways that they are contributing to make it better. I cousin’t be prouder. And doing adult things together is pretty darn cool. But ask me again how I feel when my children leave home. I’m not there yet practically (or emotionally!)

Working Downtown Twice a Week

Covid put me in a bad headspace in the sense that it got me out of the habit of travelling downtown much. I got used to working from my home office and my neurodivergence was happy with that arrangement. But I’ve been reconditioning myself and I’m really enjoying leaving the house more, even if it’s only twice a week for work. It feels great to move and I’m miraculously less overstimulated by the experience than I ever have been in the past.

New Car

I finally gave up my 2005 Mazda 3, after many years of dutiful service and bought a new car with some wonderful safety features that help with executive function, and reduce sensory issues. I still don’t drive a lot, but when I do, I feel grateful to feel more supported in one of my least-favourite activities. It’s a total privilege to be able to buy a new car and it’s also a very new experience: it’s the first new car I’ve owed in my life, so it’s kind of also weird, but in a good way.

Self Care Improvements

I’m always a work in progress, due to decades of body neglect and support needs that were historically not addressed, but as I continue to work on my self care (and I said ‘work’ because it is just that), some self-care practices have become so ingrained that they are almost unconscious now. Flossing my teeth every day for over a year? Check. Taking my vitamins every day? Booking my next haircut after my last is over? Check, check, etc. My work in this area is far from over, as I eye improvements to sleep, upping my physiotherapy intention and improving my handwashing dishes game even more.

In Conclusion

I like this yearly ritual of deliberate gratitude and I’m intrigued where others find gratitude too! (Please don’t hesitate to share!) While there’s a part of me that has ambitious visions of forming a gratitude collective, another part of me harkens to pump the brakes and keep noticing the small stuff, even if it’s only, officially, once a year.