I turned 47 earlier this week.
It’s been a YEAR to say the least. And I sat down to write about it, I found myself veering toward the negative. After all, change is hard. It shakes up your established world, forces you to reexamine all the things that you had taken as a given. It’s unsteadying (if that’s a word).
But, looking at your world differently — even if that view is forced upon you from without — can be a very good thing too.
That’s how I am choosing to see — and celebrate — my birthday this year. By counting all of the things I enjoy and love that have come into clearer focus for me over these past few months.
My thankfulness list is below. They are in no particular order. It’s not comprehensive. Some are big things, some tiny. Some are deeply meaningful, others are, well, not. All of them have given me reason to smile over this past year. I hope you consider making your own list. It’s a hugely gratifying experience.
Picking up my kids at the bus every afternoon
Mac McClung (Georgetown’s own!)
Sleeping in
English Premier League soccer on weekend mornings
Crossword puzzles
Pickup basketball
Endless re-runs of “The Office” on Comedy Central
Pitchers and catchers reporting
Baths (Yes, I love them. Not sorry.)
C-SPAN
Making pancakes for my kids
“Lost”
Coaching an 8th grade recreation basketball team
Watching Steph Curry play basketball
Special elections
The Wheel of Time (the books!)
Wrestlemania (and the Royal Rumble)
This Twitter feed
Meditation (Headspace app for the win!)
The sound of a baseball hitting a bat
Anything David Remnick writes (this Salman Rushdie profile is great)
Maggiano’s
“Andor”
Culture Study newsletter
Watching my kids play sports
Trying to de-stigmatize mental illness
Watching old Bo Jackson highlights on YouTube
Tottenham Hotspur
De La Soul (RIP Dave)
My wife — every part of her
I love you, Chris Cillizza!! Your writing is wonderful, intelligent, informative and best of all, humorous.
Happy Birthday from a big fan🎂
Love love love the restart and new perspectives ❣️🙏👍