What I’m grateful for, week 52 of 52

January 3, 2022January 4, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Life. I talk a lot of shit about finding it hard to find the good of every day, and it does happen for me, but with this pandemic still raging on — it’s becoming more and more common to hear one person be here one moment, and not in the next. My immediate family and loved ones are all still here. Our lives have changed and I have not been able to be in the presence of some people I love since this all started — but we still get to. I’m grateful for that.

2. Support. I am so grateful for the people that show up for me on a regular basis without me asking. It’s so much just trying to survive for yourself now, to have people that put in the extra mile is such a big deal.

3. Opportunities. Doors are opening for me, and there are different things that help. I love being able to choose without any scrutiny other than my own.

Song of the week: Adult Movies by Litany

What are you grateful for?

-J

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 51 of 52

December 27, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Family and friends. I got a ton of support from loved ones this past week as I made a ton of menial moves. It’s great when people are there for the fun, exciting stuff, but being there for the not fun things, is extra heartwarming.

2. So much food we couldn’t close the fridge. Our family couldn’t be together this year for the second time in a row. So they sent over the feast. They cheated on the no gifts rule by sending over a ton of food. I’m annoyed and also extra grateful.

3. Taking more control of my life. I depend on a lot of other people, too often, but I like having control more than I would like to admit. It’s scary and impractical, but it feels like the best fit for me.

Song of the week: I’ll Be Home for Christmas by She & Him

What are you grateful for this week?

Cheese · Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 50 of 52

December 21, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Incredibly smart people that are kind. Often, one can show up without the other. I’ve been lucky enough to know and love people that are both. I learn so much everyday and I’m thankful for the people that make that a human experience and not just a transactional one.

2. Progress. I am an extremely impatient person, and more than once I have cried about setbacks the past week, but at the end of the day, even the smallest steps are still steps. I can often forget that, so this is a good reminder.

3. Being able to witness people show up to an office talent show. It may sound lame, but with less than a week’s notice, talented freaking people showed up and did not phone it in. It could have been so easy to just be chill and not have anyone participate, but we saw amazing talent, and it’s such a great baseline for next year. It’s the little things.

Song of the week: Tayong Dalawa sa Pasko by Nobita

What are you grateful for?

-J

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What I’m grateful for, week 49 of 52

December 13, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Holy hells. It’s 3 weeks to the end of 2021 and I’m still in early 2020. But I digress. Here’s what I’m grateful for this past week:

1. A meal for 3 for 158 pesos ($3USD). An errand run for 2 dogs with three people because our dogs do not have any chill, but gave us the chance for a meal we’ve missed these past two years. Fishball, kwek kwek and dynamites. Plus two large mango shakes. Solb.

2. Friends who show up. If there’s anything I’ve learned this year, it’s that there are people that really show up for you. Literally and figuratively. One of the ones I’m extra grateful for is my friend Carla, and I’ve written about her before. She just shows up for you, full tilt, no questions asked, not expecting anything in return.

3. Tagging along. I have always called myself Balsam adjacent (a step up from alumni because i’m at all events), and tagged along a small get together this week. I was half asleep and was maybe half in my flask of bourbon— but it was a good feeling nonetheless. Like a secondhand high. This team was genuinely excited to be around each other and share their happiness, and that’s hard to find nowadays. It really drives down the importance of human connection in this *gestures at everything* situation.

Song of the week: I Should Have Kissed You Then by Peej

What are you grateful for?

-J

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Songs to listen to · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 48 of 52

December 6, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. The beginning of independence. Sounds ridiculous for someone who’s 35 years old, but also in a very traditional, conservative country and family. I am being vague on purpose, but independence means a lot to me — especially what it took to get there.

2. Great support. I have leaned on a lot of people, and continue to lean on still. It still takes a village to survive this (gestures at everything), and I’m glad my tribe is solid.

3. The healing power of music. I’ve tossed, turned, had incredibly vivid sad dreams this week, and when I get up — the only people awake are across the world and are hard to hug. Solution? Music. I’ve listened to bass drops and classical symphonies, and Disney to get my headspace a little out of funk, and it’s helped a ton.

Song of the week: Eleanor Rigby, rearranged by Cody Fry with an 80 piece orchestra and 400 person choir. I have been a puddle on the floor, especially with these lyrics:

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

I’ve found my new funeral song.

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 47 of 52

November 30, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Belly laughs with friends after two years. This pandemic sucks and it has permanently fucked us up, but when it comes to the real stuff, I’m glad to know I have them. And they know they have me.

2. Holiday time off. Night shift is rough, and I won’t be able to keep this up for too long, so time off is a blessing. No alarms. Being able to do things in the day without being utterly exhausted, almost incoherent. Sleeping. It’s a lot.

3. Love. And I don’t mean the romantic stuff, but the other forms of it. Love for friends. For amazing people. For emotional support animals. For people that are in the background. Love is a difficult, complicated, heartbreaking thing, but I’m thankful I get to experience it.

Song of the week: Budapest by George Ezra

What are you grateful for?

-J

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Work

What I’m grateful for, week 46 of 52

November 23, 2021December 2, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Coming together in the face of loss. We lost a friend, a colleague, an all around bright light November 14th. While it doesn’t make up for what was lost, there is some comfort in knowing everyone else is there. We’ll all miss him, and grief is unpredictable, but like the Beatles said, “We get by with the help of our friends”

Song of the week: Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol

What are you grateful for?

Tell your loved ones that you love them today.

-j

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What I’m grateful for, week 45 of 52.

November 15, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

JJ.

food · Gratitude · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 44 of 52

November 8, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Meeting a friend’s newborn via Zoom. I’ve seen pictures, I’ve asked about the baby, but I finally met her this week. She was wonderful. This thing I’ve done where half the people I love will always be half the world away? Honestly hurts, but that’s what happens when you keep your heart open. People can get in. And now I have a whole new generation of loved ones across the world.

2. New food with old friends. One of my favorite couples took me out this weekend and it was fantastic. To be around them, to walk outdoors, to see beautiful things and have dope food. I know I wasn’t the best company but I was really very happy.

3. Making one of my favorite banchan. It was terrible because it was too salty, but now I know I can. Veg + sesame oil is a fantastic combination I will always try.

Song of the week: I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes) by The 1975

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 42 of 52

October 25, 2021November 14, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Being able to cook. Work has been kicking my ass lately, and it feels like one thing right after another. There are a lot of things I cannot, and will not even try to control, but being home means access to the kitchen I’ve cooked in the most. I cooked a few things this week, and the thing that I love about cooking as a concept is that it’s fairly predictable and you know you’re getting something out of it. My audience though, fairly divided. But that’s another story.

2. Negronis. My last one being in a bar in Haight-Ashbury, having a double I made this week, almost has me back in cozy season with one of my favorite people. For now, alcohol.

3. Fresh sheets. I’m still buried under a mountain of laundry and not the right weather to do it, but hey, had to do something. While my sheets will always be imperfect (because rabbits), they are mine and I do what I can to make myself comfortable.

Song of the week: Sun and Moon by Lea Salonga and Simon Bowman

What are you grateful for?