My 30 things

List 30 things that make you happy.

These are not in order of priority.

1. When people read my blog. Thank you for giving me your time.

2. Writing. I was away from this blog for a long time. I was gone because I felt discouraged because I couldn’t find my voice. After jet pack took over, I discovered these prompts. These prompts are helpful and writng again has given me clarity about my next steps.

3. Connecting with my patients and bringing them out of their pre-op anxiety.

4. My IV skills. In the medical world it’s a skill that gets better over time. After 29 years in this business I’m going to sound like Ron Burgundy here. My IV skills are “kind of a big deal.”

5. Family dinners. This is a place where families reconnect after the day is over. I grew up eating dinner every night with my parents and my brother. No one eats until everyone is seated. I have continued that in my home with my husband and our children.

6. Cleaning, decluttering and reorganizing my house.

7. Showering after work. I don’t truly feel relaxed until I do.

8. Reading. I love to read because it takes my mind to a different place.

9. Visiting a bookstore. The possibilities of what I could read are endless.

10. My dog. I adore him.

11. Going on vacation near a body of water. Relax. Regroup. Reset.

12. Listening to music. If you are feeling down play your favorite song to change your vibration.

13. Making people laugh. Hearing laughter. When someone makes me laugh. It’s good medicine.

14. Driving a stick shift. I learned many moons ago when I got my drivers license and I still own one. I like the sensation of establishing clutch control on an incline.

15. My Jeep Wrangler. This car is now the third Jeep vehicle I’ve owned. Nurses don’t get snow days.

16. Witnessing random acts of kindness. It’s reassuring to see people do good things.

17. Sunrises and sunsets. Everyday we get to see two new pictures in the sky.

18. The four seasons. The rebirth of spring. Sunshine and warm summer days. Falling leaves and shorter days of autumn. The stillness of winter.

19. Morning coffee. That first sip of hot coffee reassures me that I will indeed come back to life at this early hour.

20. Attending college basketball games and watching them on tv. My son was in his university’s marching band for two years and basketball pep band for four. We started attending the basketball games to see him play his trombone and I discovered that I enjoyed watching basketball.

21. One on one time with each of my kids.

22. Cooking for people. For Italians cooking a meal for someone is an act of love.

23. Being at home when it’s pouring down rain.

24. My friends and family. Life is too short so enjoy being with these people while you can.

25. Exercise. It’s a must for physical and emotional health.

26. Having a “me” day.

27. Ice cream. I have a sweet tooth. My hospital used to have ice cream socials a few times a year. People would leave the ice cream room skipping.

28. Finding new random fun experience types of entertainment with my husband. In recent years we’ve discovered cooking classes, a botanical garden and different concerts.

29. Spirituality and Religion.

30. A good night’s sleep. Without it, I feel hopeless.