Dear November

Dear November,

I’m back in the US! and even though my excuse for being late this month is roughly the same as this one, I think it’s still valid.

While I normally write to each month about upcoming activities and what I’m most excited for, November, you’re different. This month I am feeling predictably thankful and was recently told that counting ones blessings has positive effects on a person’s well-being, which I can only assume is backed by piles of research.

So, November, challenge accepted. Bring on the stress-reducing, joy-inducing side effects of making note of the beautiful things that fill up my life.

I am grateful for…

LOVE, in all its forms. There is just so much love in my life right now! It’s as if the more I find love in my own life (for friends and family, for myself, for bits and pieces of my world), the more I find it in other people’s lives, which only makes me love things more. What’s the opposite of a vicious cycle? Whatever it is, that’s what I’m in, and go figure… I love it!

• A subtle love letter,
• A father’s love for his daughter,
• A secret to lasting love,
• The fun parts of finding love,
• Thoughts on tangible love,
• And some truth on self love.

FRIENDS, old and new. My old friends are scattered and my new friends are sprouting. This makes things very confusing, but surprisingly worthwhile. For my friends who are far away, I’ve found that the lasting relationships have become more intentional and have grown deeper while the ones at the surface level have remained light-hearted and effortless. For my new friends, let me just say, thank goodness I finally figured out how to make friends again. For a long time there, it was radio silence, but luckily thanks in large part to these letters, I’ve found some new very good seeds.

• The positive side to a long distance friendship,
• Tips for flourishing friendships,
• Shocking how easy it is to forget this,
• Because I forgot, for a while it felt like dating,
• Thank goodness I’m not the only one.

FAMILY, near and far. Moving away from home after school was hard because I was obviously out of my comfort zone, but it has worked out beyond my expectations in large part to my extended, extended family. Growing up, my dad’s side of the family stayed very close… cousins, second cousins, second cousins’ kids. Basically I grew up going to family gatherings of every sort with every sort of relative. I loved it that way! Shocker. Even though the big family get-togethers have mostly died down, the second cousin connections saved me when I first moved to San Francisco. Thanks to my more-distant, but very local relatives’ holiday parties, laundry machines, family dinners, old movie nights, and so much more, the Bay Area immediately felt like home and has only gotten better.

And on that note, last but not least, I am thankful for SAN FRANCISCO. This city is a gem. I couldn’t be more thrilled that I somehow landed here and that I think I’ve found my home. I’m thankful for the incredible sites to see here, the absurd amount of food available here, the manageable seasons here, and of course the aforementioned friends and family here. San Francisco and I might be in it for the long haul.

What are you most thankful for?

xx Katie

P.S. after being told of the magical properties of gratitude, I was immediately asked if I would be available to calligraph (yes that’s a word) everyone’s daily gratitudes because I would get double the magic that way (magic 1: gratefuls, magic 2: calligraphy practice). Even though this was a well-timed, facetious question, I am happy to report that YES, by the end of the month I will have a variety of calligraphy services available to you! If you can’t wait that long, let’s chat.

P.P.S. I had to share this verse because at my wacky elementary school we recited it every year as a student body and I’ve been missing it.

¹ make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

² serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

³ know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

⁵ for the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100