By: tkonter
Uncategorized,

Gratitude 2019

I only just now realized I never did my annual Gratitude post this Thanksgiving. That doesn’t mean I didn’t think about it at the time (and often since). It may be January 13, 2020, but please enjoy my thoughts of thanks from 2019. Oops.

PS – Past gratitude posts can be found here: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, and 2014.

This year brought some major change. I got a new job and watched so many friends settle down with babies and new homes. I may have experienced some moments of high stress (mostly self-inflicted), but when I look back on the year I realize way too many good things happened. I also feel like I ended 2019 on a contented note, which should mean good things for 2020.

  • This year, my father was elected to 3rd Vice Chair of the National Association of Home Builders, which means he will soon be the President of a huge, influential, national organization. Not only am I proud of all he has accomplished in his decades of hard work, I am thankful to have such a strong role model who has taught me much about work ethic and running a business.
  • Again, we celebrated some life moments (like our anniversary) at Piccolo Angolo. It’s nice to have a fave spot – especially when they serve things like lobster cannelloni in pink sauce.
  • I am SO thankful to have landed a new job! Not only is it a massive relief to have a job, I’m so happy it’s one I truly love. It’s nice to be a part of a burgeoning industry, be surrounded by great co-workers, and have a set of responsibilities that I was looking to prioritize in my career. Dovetailing with this, I’m thankful that I had the support of my beau, who helped keep our fam afloat while I searched for a new permanent gig.
  • Thank goodness for headbands and hair accessories, which really had a moment in 2019. They made several outfits feel special, particularly when I gained a bit of weight and didn’t love how the dress part of my outfit looked. Also, I discovered low, slick buns this year and it’s done wonders for bad hair days.
  • We took a pretty big trip this year to Greece. I recognize a trip like that is an extreme privilege so I’m grateful we could make it happen. We also took a bunch of smaller trips and I’m so happy we are in a place financially where we can go to LA to celebrate a friend’s wedding and jet to Savannah for a last minute 4th of July trip because I was homesick.
  • As always, I made sure to experience new things this year, including some cool meals – I’m so happy edomae style omakase exists.
  • My family has always been close, and I have always maintained a very close relationship with my cousins. I realized when I went home for my Grandmother’s funeral that our bond is a direct result of the scene our parents and grandparents set for us. I am thankful that my grandparents always considered those who married into the family sons and daughters – there was NEVER an “in-law” tagged to the end. It was evident when the six grandsons served as pall bearers, even though two of them did not bear our last name and one of them is not Jewish.
  • I am so thankful for cheese plates. This was really the year where I upped my plating game.
  • I love taking advantage of my city and am thrilled Broadway is at my back door. This year I saw Hamilton, Beautiful, Ain’t Too Proud, Jagged Little Pill, Oklahoma, and am about to see Moulin Rouge.
  • Art is pricey so it’s a good thing we have a talented painter as a friend who gave us a sweet deal on a large piece that helped us decorate our home.