1. Morning walks. There’s a guy we see walking sometimes who always says something about the beautiful day or sky or weather, and I love that about him even though it’s really the only thing I know about him.

I don’t know if it’s because I did scent and nose work with Ringo, but he doesn’t just sniff things on his walk, he studies them. I wish I could show you how he’ll walk up to a clump of grass and trace his nose along each individual blade searching for the origin point of a particular smell. I never rush him along, and only stop him if I can see that it’s something especially gross and/or he’s about to eat it.

Since Eric is on winter break now, we can walk together some days. I still haven’t stopped telling him, “I’m glad you’re home.” He’s my favorite person, which reminds me of something my dad asked me as he was dying — “Do you ever get tired of spending time with Eric?” “No, he’s my favorite person.” “That’s what I thought.” I think he was equally glad for me that I had that in my life and a little bit jealous. I wish he’d let himself be happier while he was still here instead of making everything so hard. 

2. Medical science and healthcare, the technology and the professionals. Sure, there is lots to complain about here, mostly because human beings have a tendency towards greed, but can you imagine our lives without things like prescription glasses or vaccines, or emergency rooms and first responders? We are so lucky we don’t have to. I’m grateful every single day for the practitioners, procedures, treatments, medicine, supplements, support and care I have. And I wish everyone did, that it was accessible, affordable, and safe.

3. Practice. Keeping me sane and stable, still.

4. The holiday season. The lights, the food, the love, the naps, the chance to slow down.

5. My tiny family, small house, little life. The other night, I came into the kitchen and Eric told me he’d been watching these videos of a guy who walks up to random people, says “I’ve had a bad day” and asks for a hug, some refusing but most agreeing to it. Eric was telling me how it was making him sad to think that so many people didn’t get that sort of affection or comfort in their regular lives, and then he showed me some of the videos. When we finished and I looked at him, his eyes were filled with tears. I teased him about it, but it’s that kind of thing that I adore about him. And of course, I gave him a big hug.

And just to show that even though Ringo might be twelve years old, a full grown old man, he still has a whole lot of play left in him.

Bonus joy: cookies and toffee from Dana along with a massage, having Eric to help me with hard stuff, a big glass of cold clean water, listening to Dateline while I make dinner, the lights on our Christmas tree, the lights and decorations on our neighbors houses, my collapsible wagon — good for transporting yoga props and things boxes of Christmas presents I need to ship at the Post Office, True Story Foods, down blankets and pillows, all the things you can order online and get delivered right to your front door (an introvert’s dream) and all the people especially right now working so hard to make those shipments and transports possible, garbage service, indoor plumbing, a hot cup of coffee and a warm mug of tea, a washer and dryer in my house that I don’t need quarters for, a warm shower, dog sighs, other people’s kids and dogs, Christmas cards even though I don’t usually send them, being on Facebook again for like an hour and realizing I’m not missing anything and re-deactivating my account, gummy vitamins, texting with Chris and Chloe’, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, watching TV and films on demand with no commercials, naps, reading in bed at night while Eric and Ringo sleep.