Friday Gratitude: Solo Vacation Reflections

I think gratitude posts are especially necessary when I’m feeling stressed or anxious. Nothing pulls me out of a what-am-I-doing-with-my-life brain fog than making a list of all the positives, right?

So, for those of you who may not follow S&S on Facebook or Instagram (which…why not?!), I was an updating machine while I was in Seattle. I posted plenty of pictures and wordy updates about what I did each day, but of course those didn’t do my solo week away justice. I stayed in four different places, dined alone in restaurants several times, explored a few neighborhoods throughout the city, rode the ferry across Elliott Bay, ate a lot of doughnuts, and went on a day trip up Mount Rainier (Washington’s highest mountain and my fifth national park!). 

Beyond the surface stuff: I also laughed, cried, had moments of pure joy and pure sadness, experienced constant inspiration beyond belief, and didn’t want to leave (except to see Andy). I’d say that makes for a satisfying vacation, wouldn’t you?

Friday Gratitude: Post Solo Vacation

1. I’m grateful for myself! For having the determination and will to make this trip happen, for being a good planner and deal-finder, and for the travel opportunities I created through this blog.

2. I’m grateful for Andy: a supportive, giving partner. Andy understands me and my needs. In a general sense, he supports me traveling alone and specifically, he was an enormous help right before I left and made sure I had everything I needed.

This photo is blurry, but it marks a special moment (getting our marriage license four years ago) and I love the looks on our faces:

3. I’m grateful for my day trip to Mount Rainier with EverGreen Escapes. I’ll post plenty more on this, but what a great tour! Everything from our guide, the food and drinks included, and the beauty of the Cascades stood out for me. We all could have done without the pouring rain on the mountain, but Mother Nature does want she wants, doesn’t she?

At least I got a few good shots at lower elevations when it stopped raining, like this one:

4. I’m grateful for Seattle’s friendly residents who made me feel at home. Since I was traveling alone, I connected more with cashiers, servers, and other locals than I would have otherwise. I had some wonderful interactions that I’m sure I won’t forget, like the waiter at The Lucky Diner who gave me my breakfast for half off. He nearly brought me to tears with his kindness!

The heavily discounted breakfast of vegetarian biscuits and gravy (don’t worry, I have a whole post dedicated to my vacation meals coming up!):

5. I’m grateful for the spring weather in Seattle last week! I felt like I jumped forward six weeks, that’s how nice it was compared to how far off spring feels here in New York. I loved walking outside in only a jacket, and then removing it in the afternoons to soak up the sunshine.

Also, holy flowering trees, Batman! What a joy to see blossoms like this all over the city!

Bonus: I’m grateful for the low periods during my week in Seattle. It’s hard to have highs without lows; I feel like I know that all too well. But really, after calling Andy amid some major sadness and loneliness on Saturday night, Sunday and Monday were simply wonderful.

I have tons more details for you about everything I mentioned and more! I’d love to hear: what are you grateful for this week? What’s the weather like where you are (snowing here)? Have you ever experienced generosity like I did at the diner? What are you favorite aspects of Seattle, if you’ve been?

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Disclaimer: My Mount Rainier day trip was compliments of EverGreen Escapes, but all opinions are my own.