6 Happy Things to Celebrate

Weekly Reminders to Stay Positive #8

Hi friends,

Welcome to the 8th installment of a bi-weekly series, where I share 6 happy things in my life in the past two weeks. Ever since I started writing and documenting this series, I have found more joy out of life and hope you find delight in them too.

Feel free to share your weekly happy thing in the comment section. I would love to know.

now that Fall is here…

1. Essays and books I have read:

• Chasing gratitude from the Arrivals and Departure newsletter

Happiness experts (yes there is such a thing) suggest that a happy life is not necessarily the precursor to gratitude but a deep feeling of gratitude is very much a necessary condition for being happy

• Crushes are often just misplaced ambition from Mind Mine newsletter

My favorite quote from the essay:

The people I find beautiful are almost never just attractive people. They are people (and things) that demand attention, effort, thought to be completely understood. I can appreciate mere physical beauty, but it doesn't excite me. The idea of having to peel back layers to completely understand something or someone is what excites me.

• communication on all levels from the bookbear express

• Three Subtle Ways to Avoid Leading a Life of Quiet Desperation from the Perennial Meditation newsletter

• October 22 note from the David Lebovitz newsletter. I love learning about French cuisine, the cultural differences between the US and France and life in the European continent.

• Back to the US - notes on the world of work from Paul Millerd. I still need to read his book The Pathless Path.

2. My parents finished their first 5K this past weekend in Hanoi. Being from close to couch potatoes (albeit not really as my dad plays golf and my mom exercises from time to time), never really running to completing a 5K, I am quite impressed with their effort.

   
   Join me in congratulating my Gen X parents for completing such a feat.

3. Coziest and delicious coffee shops and French bakeries in Denver:

   I recently spent two weeks in Colorado and got to try out new bakeries and coffee shops every weekend, see below for my favorites:

   Bakery Four

   La Fillette

   Izzio Bakery at Denver Central Market

   Bardo Coffee

   Devil’s Cup Coffee

4. Completing my first pro bono project:

We spent two weeks working on a project for a local non profit on affordable housing here called Foundation Communities sponsored by my employer. The organization provides affordable housing support for families in the Austin area and has a host of challenges that we can pick one to address. Our team worked for two weeks and was able to deliver the solution on time, which in more than one way, was extremely rewarding to me.

5. Even more outdoors time

Because what else one would do in Colorado:

Golden Gate Canyon Park

Whose parking lot was packed on a Sunday morning that we ended up driving around instead of actually hiking.

White Ranch Park

A chill park with expansive view of the city with both manageable and challenging trails. We really love this one too, lots of parking!!

6. I watched Bros last weekend and it was one of the most wholesome and genuine movies depicting gay relationships I have seen. It’s a rom com and light watch, and features all LGBTQ+ casts. Would highly recommend everyone to give it a try.

   

   real, raw, hilarious, wholesome

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   If you have any thoughts to share, leave me a comment (or two) below

   I will see you on Friday with a full length essay.