Gratitude Practice 2020 Day 157: To Do Lists, a Big Boy Zucchini and Friday Eve

This week was….oofff. It began with a really long "To Do" list...like multiple pages kind of long...and it just keeps going. Last week was the same. And so was the week before that. Double and triple...ooff. Every industry cycles through a busy season and for me...late May early June is always the big big show. This year since so much of the world has gone sideways our dates are a bit off but the work load has only grown. So many items and tasks on that detailed list guide my days, organize my thoughts, race through my head all night long and keep the work moving forward. Always more meetings than normal. More interviews. More hiring. 1x1's. Shopping. Sorting. Organizing. Cleaning. And then more shopping. Projects. Calls. Lots of teaching, training and presentations. More meetings..and just...so...much...zoom. So many boxes on my north star to do list and now as we inch towards go time….just as many happy check marks measure both progress and success. I love my job. I love what I get to do for a living. My team is equal parts heart and hustle and I've watched each of them push and plow and scrap through this unprecedented time and they've done it with grace and professionalism and creativity and mostly kindness for themselves and for others. Really inspiring to watch them navigate this unknown time, remain surprisingly positive and adapt our way to the launch of another successful summer. And wow...I...am...wiped. I make lists because I'm lost without them and oh the joy that those hard-earned euphoric check marks bring. Tonight, as I closed my laptop and reviewed my plan for tomorrow... hunting for the final few remaining tasks...the finish line is in sight...and I could not be more exhausted or more grateful.

My reward for a day spent plowing through and checking boxes is always time in my backyard with my little family and if I'm really lucky a little time with my hands in some dirt. I'm a middle aged grown-up woman who absolutely baits herself on the regular like a kid with a handful of sweaty fish crackers or a pile of warm fruit snacks to remain focused and productive because there is a backyard and a summer night sky to enjoy in the end. It's absolute mental bargaining and there is no shame in my game. Tonight, my mushy brained exhausted self absolutely came back to life once we walked outside for our nightly garden inspection ritual. Just so grateful for my girl and her endless excitement for our very humble gardening adventure. Grateful for her "big boy" zucchini and her confident pumpkins, and her hopeful cucumbers, and our sprawling watermelons. RIP carrots and squash...maybe next year. This dirt. These plants. This process and her never ending excitement...it's restorative gratitude on repeat.

And mostly, tonight, just grateful it's finally Friday Eve. It's been a long long relentless slog and Friday is always a good idea.