today i am grateful for my father, who, like my mother, is an amazing role model in my life. he makes sound decisions swiftly and doesn’t waste time looking back. he’s worked very hard all of his life to take good care of his family. he encouraged me to apply to stanford and then made it possible for me to go when i got in. for my father, there is no moral grey area. if i ask him for advice, i always know that he will give me the right (though not necessarily easy) answer. he’s the most grounded and practical person i know, but he also has a deep well of empathy and generosity. after 40 (ish? bad daughter! i should know!) years of marriage he still treasures my mother, and their marriage is now a roadmap for me on how to conduct my own. he’s a great cook and a terrible singer. i am proud to have inherited his off-key singing voice as well as his people management skills.

Today I am grateful for my mother, who is probbaly the best person I know. “Best” is intentionally broad; to be more specific, she is the most generous, empathetic, patient, kind, and smart lady I know, who marches to the beat of her own drum, has an open heart, a beautiful sense of humor, and a curious, analytic mind. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model in life.

at the post-race party following my first marathon in 2007

Today I am grateful for yoga, in all of its many forms. For quieting the mind, stretching the body, deepening the breath, and opening the heart.

Today I am grateful for waking up to sunshine on winter mornings.

B: have you seen this episode of 30 rock?
J: no, what happens?
B: okay so Jen, I mean, Liz Lemon–
J: wait, did you just confuse me with Liz Lemon?
B: it’s a compliment, Tina Fey is super cute.
[pause]
J: I think I have food in my hair.
B: and yet I’m in trouble for comparing you to Liz Lemon?

I’m grateful for the first snowfall of the year. Also for warm hats and mittens, down blankets, radiator heat, hot tea, and that I have a snug roof over my head on cold winter days.

Today I’m grateful to have the leisure time for going out for (or staying in for) Sunday morning brunch. I am grateful for waffles piled with fruit and maple syrup, strong decaf coffee, really good veggie sausage, and being a ‘regular’ somewhere.

Today I am grateful for running. I am so so grateful for running. Running makes me strong. It makes me calm, and happy, and patient, and an all-around nicer person. It softens the edges of anxiety and banishes the panic attacks. It gives me permission to eat all the cookies I want, even into the inevitable metabolic slowdown of my 30’s. It’s a way to see new cities and new countries in an up-close and unique way when I travel, and a way to see the minute seasonal changes of the places that I live. My husband likes how my butt look in running tights. People are impressed when I say I’m a 6-time marathoner or that I’ve run a sub-4-hour marathon. It travels well; running shoes always fit into the suitcase. I can run after departing buses and sprint up train platform steps without getting winded. Running gave me something besides work to focus on in my 20’s, when my career threatened to eat my entire life. Running reassures me that there is a deep deep well of determination and grit inside me that I can access when I need it. It teaches and reinforces good life lessons: to adapt to what life throws at you; that while very little in life is actually merit-based, that the effort you put forth still matters; that overwhelmingly large tasks can be accomplished by putting your head down and only looking at the next step right in front of you.

Today I am grateful to have a good job at an excellent theatre, making plays with an amazing team of people.

The first day of tech for AN ILIAD

Snuggling up with whiskey and cats on cold November nights.