Dear Gratitude Journal :

I’m grateful for the return of the light. Winter solstice is always a bit of a somber day. Even with the rush of Christmas, I cannot shake the feeling that 2026 will be a very different year, and we need these next few weeks to rest, reflect, and realign. I’m grateful I had time to tend to the garden before our big rainstorms. And, even though everyone says it, I’m very grateful for my friends. I feel honored to have people in my life who have been putting up with my shit for decades, and they still love and support me. Amazing. The end.

Dear Gratitude Journal :

Fixing my sprinklers is my least favorite DIY chore as it involves carefully digging through mud and cutting thru roots to ultimately uncover someone’s gross incompetence. But, since I had to be wet and covered with mud, and annoyed, I’m grateful it was 90° and not 50°. I’m grateful for petunias and pansies. They’re sturdy, cheap, and colorful. And I’m grateful that the weather allowed me to spent some time in the garden, which is my favorite place to be.