23 Things I’m Grateful For

December 31, 2023
9:38 pm

As Gretchen Ruben says, the days are long, but the years are short.

This year I’ve been dealing with self-doubt about how to move forward in life and feeling stuck. Despite that, many great things have happened and I have a lot to be grateful for. With no further ado, here are 23 things I’m grateful for from this year:

I attended three different weddings this year and got to take part in the special day of some dear friends. One of the weddings was in Mexico, which allowed for some travel outside of Chile and reconnecting with a friend I hadn’t seen in about 6 or 7 years. The weddings in Chile were beautiful, and they made me realize how important friendships are.
I took my first real vacation since the pandemic to Puerto Vallarta. I’ve always wanted to stay at an all-inclusive resort, and while it was only a 3-star place it was still a wonderful experience. Being able to relax by a pool with a strawberry margarita is a luxury that I really enjoyed.
I met an online friend from working on Focusmate during the pandemic. Stephanie and I worked together every morning for about 7 or 8 months during the pandemic, and we formed a wonderful friendship. We were able to meet in person in Miami for a long weekend.
I went to my first in-person conference since the pandemic, Podfest. It was all about podcasting, and I met some amazing people that have helped me rebuild my confidence and take the first steps towards starting my own podcast.
I’m grateful for my in-person birthday celebration in February. About 15 people were there, and it was great reconnecting with people I hadn’t seen in a while. in lieu of gifts I asked people to clean out their closets to find used clothing and housewares to donate to those in need. We filled a shopping cart with a variety of donations that went to immigrants in need.
Viña del Mar is less than 2 hours away by bus from Santiago, and I really enjoy going there for a break from the city. I’m grateful that I’ve found some nice places to stay and have been able to meet with friends that live out that way. I’ve found that the change of scenery helps with my creativity and overall wellbeing.
At a friend’s suggestion, I transitioned from getting medical attention from large hospitals where I felt like a number to a medical center that is more holistic and treats its patients as unique individuals. This has been helpful for having a primary care physician that takes her time when we have an appointment as well as a psychiatrist that listens and isn’t only looking at medication as the only solution. Next week I’m starting with a health coach that will help me with my overall habits.
I was able to travel back to New Jersey to see family and friends twice in 2023, and it was wonderful getting to see them. There’s always a sense of comfort in traveling back home, spending time with the people you grew up with, visiting familiar places, and eating the food that you miss.
I’m grateful for the trip to Los Angeles to visit friends that I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic. Reconnecting with friends from college, my first years working as a teacher, and friends that also lived in Chile filled my cup and made me feel connected.
I’m grateful for the community of online streamers that I’ve forged friendships with. Being able to connect with online gamers to chat and watch them play games has helped create a sense of connection, which has been immensely helpful when feeling lonely at night.
The building staff where I live are wonderful people. When I struggle with my luggage coming home from a trip, they run to the door to help me get inside. I’ve gotten into the habit of talking to one of the concierges, and she has opened her home to me on various occasions to spend time with her family.
The holidays are a challenging time for me, but this year I was able to spend Christmas in Lima with a friend from my exchange year in Germany. She also enjoys traveling, and we enjoyed going to a cat cafe, making our own chocolate, and enjoying the delicious food.
I’m grateful for Delta Airlines. I’ve had terrible experiences with another airline, but continued using them to save money and use up airline miles. I’ve found that the gate agents, flight attendants, and representatives with Delta are so much friendlier and helpful. This has brought me peace of mind when traveling, which as you can see happens pretty often.
I have a wonderful group of friends that accept me as who I am and listen to my challenges in life without judgement. Having their support and knowing that they care about me is something that I really value.
I’m grateful for my apartment in Santiago. This is the first apartment where I’ve had a proper office and my own washing machine. I have enough space for work, living, and have friends over for games.
There’s a cat café in Santiago, and I’ve really enjoyed going there from time to time. I’d like to eventually adopt a cat, but I’m not ready to do so yet.
I’ve found a barber and dermatologist that I enjoy going to. I’ve gotten to know them as people, and we spend most of the appointments catching up and talking about life.
I’m grateful for Nintendo. Nintendo gaming systems have been a big part of my life since I was a kid, and being able to connect online to play with friends has been a great source of entertainment.
I have and have had wonderful students that work hard to achieve their goals. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to work as my own or focus my energy on meaningful ways of becoming a better educator. I’m fortunate to be in contact with some of them, and I attended one of their weddings in April.
I’m grateful for the video creation course that I completed early this year. Jo Gakonga created an amazing course combining synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities. There’s also a Facebook group for participants to stay in contact and support each other.
My health insurance here in Chile has covered a significant portion of my health care costs. I wouldn’t have the same coverage if I were working freelance in the United States.
I’m grateful for the access I have to a variety of food options where I live. I’m two blocks away from two supermarkets, and they as well as many restaurants offer delivery. This has helped save a ton of time while avoid going out when the weather is bad.
Last but not least, I’m grateful for the public transportation system in Santiago. The subway system connects many parts of the city, and some lines have air conditioning. Electric buses are becoming more and more common here, and they also have air conditioning. I can even get to and from the airport with the subway and a bus now.