Friday Gratitude: Optimism

op·ti·mism

noun \ˈäp-tə-ˌmi-zəm\

Things are looking up, my friends! I’m so pleased with the new layout and love hearing all the positive feedback from you guys. Let’s jump right into the first Friday Gratitude in a loooong time.

Today, I’m grateful for…

1. Andy, of course! My husband Andy was the one who pushed me to start the redesign, and did basically all the behind-the-scenes work. He spent hours for several days tweaking and fixing the tiniest details. Without Andy, I wouldn’t even have a blog.

2. Juno. I’m always grateful for my dog. Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, her dreaming noises were the most adorable sounds ever.

3. Taking care of a kid that I actually feel a bond with. I mean, it makes a difference, you know? Coming home after spending the entire day with him and not feeling exhausted, or like I want a do-over, looking forward to the next time I see him, feeling such joy when he learns to say a new word…yeah, those are nice feelings.

4. Optimism. The days are getting longer. Andy and I joined Planet Fitness this month and we went there yesterday for the first time– my first time going to a gym, ever! So I’m excited to get in the habit of working out regularly and seeing the difference that makes. Plus, on my good days, I feel a sense of renewal (maybe the blog has something to do with it?). I remind myself what I’ve always known: I can, have, and do make things happen for myself. Don’t just talk about it, do it. Seek out new experiences! Treat yourself better!

5. TRAVEL! I saved the most exciting item for last. My sister is counting down the days until her tenth anniversary cruise in February, and I said to her I need something like that to look forward to. So, I started paying attention to all the travel-related emails I get featuring flight sales (from sites like TravelZoo, Airfare Watchdog, and SmarterTravel). I couldn’t decide where to go, but kept checking what the deals from my area were for suggestions. The few things I did know for sure about my destination: someplace I’ve never been, not too expensive, and easy to get around.

Happily, I finally bought a plane ticket tonight!I’m going to Seattle, Washington for a week in mid-March! Besides meeting the three aforementioned criteria, Seattle has so much going for it: right on the water with lots of islands a ferry ride away, tons of parks to hike in, great museums, and underground tours, to name a few. Here’s an excerpt from Y Travel’s Guide to Seattle:

For me, Seattle is a blend of everything that’s great in the world. The city is brimming with delicious espresso, culture, art, open-mindedness, jazz music, and intellect. It has three-story bookstores and libraries that are built to be pieces of art, for goodness sake.

The entire city is filled with a salty breeze from The Harbor and all the food is made with quality and ingenuity unmatched on the west coast.

There’s just something about Seattle that feels like happiness. It’s got a very distinct vibe and flavor and I love that. You’ll never be bored. It’s a place where people aren’t afraid to be themselves and that resonates deeply with me.

How great does that sound? Here are some photos of the library she mentioned— I can’t wait to see it in person (ha, said the librarian’s daughter)! The anticipation, the research and planning are major factors in the experience of travel; I’ve already bookmarked a ton of Seattle-related pages (including best doughnuts, of course) and can’t wait to find out more in the coming weeks.

It has been way too long since I’ve seen a view like this:

What are you grateful for today? Do you have any travel planned in the near future? Have you ever been to Seattle? Please share your favorite places and things to do!