Issue 12: 44 Bite-sizes of Grateful 🍪

The little things that ripple into the bigger moments

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Wanderlee is a bi-monthly email from Akina Marie about finding the magic in the little things. Feel free to share excerpts from this newsletter with someone you think might enjoy it. Thank you for being here!

Hey Everyone,

I was thinking about gratitude this week, and I was reminded that it’s important to appreciate the smaller things in life that ripple into the bigger things. Like how a hot shower cleanses more than just the body, but also the soul, or how a hug can instantly melt away the day’s stress.

When I do my gratitude journaling, I aim big – like being grateful for the roof over my head, food on the table, and having the love and support of my family and friends. While it’s always great to give thanks for your blessings, the little things are just as important.

Believe it or not, curating this list was pretty tough! But it also reminded me to do this practice more often and be more present. This week, I challenge you to carve out some time to create your bite-size gratitude list!

Here are my 44 bite-sizes of grateful

1. The taste of fresh minty toothpaste in the morning

2. Clean water 💧

3. Sweet, sweet laughter

4. The sound of rain hitting the window

5. “What You Won't Do for Love” by Bobby Caldwell

6. Watching families reunite at the airport

7. A rack of clean dishes

8. Sunsets, sunrises, and clear skies

9. When this song comes on 🎧
   

   

10. Kicking off my heels after a long day at work (or the club)

11. Cuddling with my fur babies 🐱

12. Opening a care package and some old-school snail mail

13. Diving into the ocean

14. Cold beer in a glass

15. A new haircut (that bounce, though 💁🏻‍♀️)

16. Endorphins after a workout sesh

17. The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies straight out of the oven 🍪

18. Eucalyptus aromatherapy and bath salts

19. Creative conversations with my writer and filmmaker friends.

20. A full tank of gas

21. The smell of a new book

22. The feeling of a smooth inky pen.

23. Chicken wings and spicy tofu soup 🍗 🎂🫕

24. Meeting strangers and creating lifelong friendships

25. An inspiring workspace and desk

26. A good podcast

27. Being co-pilot on a road trip

28. Freshly brewed coffee in the morning ☕️

29. Calculators (because doing mental math is a struggle)

30. Rainbows 🌈 and nature’s other miracles

31. The warm sun on my skin

32. Catching up with an old friend in person or on Facetime

33. My dad’s sweater

34. Soysauce bottles (to help with the overpour)

35. Glasses 🤓 😎

36. Grammarly as my sidekick

37. 20-minute dinners and overnight oats

38. Seeing my favorite barista in the morning

39. A good-luck text from my best friend

40. That early 2000’s alternative rock playlist on Spotify

41. Leftovers for dinner

42. Documentaries that move me (I highly recommend Amy Tan: Unintended Memoir on Netflix).

43. Window seats on airplanes, trains, and car rides.

44. Angel confirmations from your guides (seeing numbers like 111, feathers, and other synchronicities).

Share your list in the comments!

Sending you love and light this weekend,

Akina