The world
For deep breaths. Twilight's soft light. Mountain air. Warm coffee. Grass on bare feet. Breeze. Sunsets over the Pacific. A glass of water in the morning. The smell of wet dirt. The sound of soft rain. The movement on a certain watch. Orchids. Timeless design. Simple, delicious food. Deep, starry skies that don't seem possible. Running a hand on wood grain. Trees. Fabrics. The smell of green tea. Ceramics. Prosciutto. Olive oil. Spaces designed with care and acknowledgment. Nostalgia.
The art
For writing that has a style and voice so strong I can hear it. Writing with rhythm. Storytelling that suspends time. Stories that expand the mind. Film that captures ephemeral light. Paintings that make me stop looking and start seeing. Music that transforms the place. Music that transforms the person. Speakers that fill the room on weekend mornings. Poetry that says nothing one day and everything the next. Technology that pulls people's creativity forward. How art can bring us together. How it can help us understand each other. How it can help us imagine what could be.
The others
For being held up when my own strength falters. Strangers' kindness, and their smiles. Infectious laughter. Honest listeners. Friends who know what I need to hear. Friends who know what I don't want to hear, and say it anyway. Mom's love. Dad's belief. Parents' sacrifice. A friend who can sit in silence. Recommendations that make me feel seen. Being seen. Patience. Trust. Proactivity. Curiosity. Charisma. Conviction. People who offer energy freely, abundantly. Conversation that builds, lifts, soars. People who believe in me.
The self
For an active mind. Strengthening muscles. An appetite for richness. Excitablity. Charisma, sometimes. How I value friendship. How I value ideas. Running. Writing. Reaching deep. My affinity for a romantic scent. Optimism. My desire to adapt. My desire to share what I'm excited about. My love for connecting people. My willingness to hold out, on my own behalf, to demand more of myself and more of the world. My ability to make peace with myself and with the world. My desire to be better, to make life less about me and more about others.
For the fact that this list can't even possibly scratch the surface in any of these categories and in countless others. For the fact that gratitude is a bottomless well that stands to give until the end of my days and yours.