Friday, December 02, 2022

Annual thanksgiving Tradition 2022: 2300 Ways I am Grateful

 Annual Thanksgiving Tradition:

 23 Years ago I sent out a “gratitude” list of 100 things I was grateful in Wilmington that year. It was met with great success as it spurred others to think about the positive and create perspective that might not always be in focus.

Each year since I have made a new list times the number of years I have been doing it, and include groups, things, organizations, service, and places. (Names are only used in reference to gifts..don't go looking  your name! LOL! :)

I GENERATE A NEW LIST EACH YEAR.  This is stream of consciousness, and I try and write it as close together as I can. It is a wonderful and meaningful journey.

Regardless of what my circumstances might be, regardless of what events may occur in my life, it is a tradition I will continue, because, I/we am/are blessed and it is worth remembering, offering thanksgiving, and sharing with each other!

 I hope it will spark a list of your own and feel free to steal mine!

I am grateful (to/for ):

 

1.      My higher power, whom I call God

2.      All the love and sustaining force I receive on a daily basis

3.      The forgiveness and grace I am given and receive

4.      The sustaining nurture

5.      The place of wholeness that I have come to know

6.      The internal voice I hear so clearly

7.      My love and connection in my marriage

8.      For the gift of having someone to walk side by side with

9.      For 33 years one day at a time

10.  For all those days with a reprieve

11.  12, 293 days

12.  295, 005 hours and counting

13.  403 months and counting

14.  All those new days of possible

15.  All those nights of review

16.  All those connections to good

17.  All those moments of creation

18.  All those opportunities to make something happen

19.  All those moments of peace

20.  Of silence

21.  Of laughter

22.  Of feeling

23.  Of sensations

24.  Of better

25.  Of comfort

26.  Of comforting

27.  Of hearing

28.  Of listening

29.  Of sharing

30.  Of caring

31.  Of being with

32.  Of being

33.  Of knowing

34.  Wondering

35.  Still being in awe of so much

36.  For the love and life of a parent in my step dad

37.  Family of blood

38.  Family of choice

39.  Seeing more

40.  And be connected to my mortality in a new way

41.  For going into our 27th year together

42.  Doctor roc mccarthy

43.  Going back after 9 months for a clean scan

44.  Being cancer free after 2 surgeries and two different sets of treatments

45.  Having the most wonderful nurse in the world “cover” me before the treatment

46.  Advanced Urology

47.  All the care and prayer in my cancer journey

48.  Looking up at the camera and not seeing any issues

49.  The pressure on my arm from the loving nurse

50.  The prayer and connections from her

51.  The overwhelming love and care from the post after the event

52.  Going back for care and remaining optimistic

53.  Seth Boynton therapy

54.  Going to therapy

55.  Sticking to therapy

56.  Not bailing on therapy

57.  Finding way to hear not what I want but what I need

58.  Having amazing support and care

59.  Having an amazing mentor/friend/and someone I can depend with Judd

60.  Having someone who calls when I get down a rabbit hole

61.  Having someone who I look t o and for also

62.  Being a work husband

63.  Having work wives?

64.  All the trips around the building

65.  “bo therapy”

66.  Being considered reliable

67.  Being relied upon

68.  Being able to rely on others

69.  Being fallible

70.  Being imperfect and not being defeatist

71.  having a home

72.  owning our home

73.  owning a home before they got so expensive

74.  owning a home we can afford

75.  owning a home that is right sized for us

76.  being in our home for over 22 years

77.  Having a place to be with Michael and Jax

78.  a roof that does not leak

79.  walls that keep in the warmth

80.  walls that are solid

81.  a stove that works

82.  having and oven that works

83.  having a refrigerator that keeps our food and is dependable

84.  having appliance to help us with our cooking

85.  having pots and pans

86.  having utensils to eat with

87.  having plates  and bowls to eat from

88.  having food in our home

89.  having access to health food so close to our home

90.  having access to deliver of food to our home

91.  having access to so many options to food to near our home

92.  having windows that open and close

93.  having so much light in our home

94.  having a sky light to look through

95.  having a little garden out back

96.  having a privacy fence

97.  having security in our home

98.  having security in our neighborhood

99.  not having to hear gun shot and violence nightly in our home

100.                      feeling relatively safe after dark in our neighborhood

101.                      knowing our neighbors

102.                      having numbers to call of our neighbors in times of need

103.                      having an HOA

104.                      Community Solutions Southeast

105.                      the management of Chris Blake

106.                      our landscapers who work so hard every week

107.                      having an office in our home

108.                      having equipment to make telework successful

109.                      having our new library

110.                      all the books in our home

111.                      our furnishings in our home

112.                      having a bed that leaves us renourished after sleeping

113.                      having hot and cold running water

114.                      having a dryer in our house

115.                      having a dishwasher in our home

116.                      having wifi in our house

117.                      having a strong signal in our home

118.                      having tv’s to watch

119.                      for being able to share time in spaces that are comfortable together

120.                      for having a space to share meals

121.                      for having art that we can enjoy

122.                      for having places to store and keep things

123.                      having space to keep things for our own enjoyment

124.                      having streets that are maintained and accessible

125.                      having places to park our cars

126.                      having a front door that feel safe

127.                      our floors that are solid

128.                      our door jambs that are not invaded by air coming through

129.                      having a pest service on the regular

130.                      having lighting throughout to be able to read, study and live

131.                      having music in the house

132.                      having neighbors who respect boundaries

133.                      the backyard and our birds!

134.                      The cardinals feeding one another

135.                      Our swinging chair from Harold

136.                      Watching all the plantings grow

137.                      Our rose bushes

138.                      Mother’s crepe myrtle from Raleigh flourishing

139.                      Having plants from others in our yard

140.                      Our elephant ears from Mrs. Freeze

141.                      The safe and lavender

142.                      The eye is on the sparrow sculpture form Mrs. Freeze

143.                      The rocks from places we have visited

144.                      The rose bushes

145.                      My birdbath Michael bought me

146.                      The poda carpus from mom and Harold

147.                      The lion from Mr. Freeze

148.                      The butterfly from leanne

149.                      The door mat form Ashley

150.                      The fused glass from Lisa Francolini

151.                      Time our back to just listen to the birds

152.                      The silence at night in the house

153.                      The smell in the house of scented candles

154.                      The fresh smell in the house after Tiffeny leaves.

155.                      Tiffeny and her amazing help.

156.                      My chair. (yes, I have a chair! LOL)

157.                      Turning down our street and seeing the trees

158.                      Our crepe myrtle in the front

159.                      Being able to walk in the community with Michael and Jax

160.                      Our retention ponds and wildlife

161.                      Having sidewalks in our neighborhood

162.                      The planters at the front door with life welcoming us home

163.                      The stair case

164.                      The landing with all the family portraits

165.                      Watching jax navigate those stairs

166.                      The greeting at the front doors with the changing flowers

167.                      Amber Dale Pumpkin patch

168.                      The best mums

169.                      Talking to the flowers at the front

170.                      Saying thank you to the flowers for making it more beautiful

171.                      Watering the flowers each day

172.                      The beauty of having flowers at the front on the way in

173.                      The feeling of connection to beauty at the front of the house

174.                      The welcome of the “home” base mat

175.                      The returning spider grass each year

176.                      The spiritual meditation spot

177.                      Michael having a space to work and thrive on his own

178.                      MY bubbly bath tub!

179.                      All my storage containers for food (for order!)

180.                      Having a termite bond on the house

181.                      Having insurance on our home

182.                      Wells Insurance agency

183.                      Little things that connect me to my past

184.                      having most things in our home that are about us and our journey and us and NOT from my past

185.                      little photos of family and us that make me smile

186.                      having forever the ashes for Circe and Valpone

187.                      putting the ashes under the Christmas tree each each year

188.                      the shells in the cabinet

189.                      the space to make and create

190.                      the space to work out

191.                      the equipment to work out

192.                      the non stop gratitude for all of this in our home not taking any of it for granted

193.                      the little pieces of Michael’s past that connect me to him before I knew him

194.                                                                                                        the pieces of mother’s art

195.                      the pieces of Harold’s Art.

196.                      The pieces of Cousin David’s Art

197.                      Our Christmas traditions that we built as a family

198.                      All the nativities

199.                      The gifts of nativities from friends on their travels

200.                      The dearest of the nativities from Katherine

201.                      The nativity from Grandmother lois

202.                      The little knee hugging elf from mother form the 40s

203.                      Our collection of angels we have been getting for our whole marriage

204.                      Our tree now which is 26 years of ornaments and memories

205.                      The handmade ornaments from Mrs. Freeze

206.                      The little santa from mother’s trip to Mexico in the 70’s

207.                      The connection to some of the ornaments to Leanne and the girls

208.                      Florals from mother

209.                      The little things Mr. freeze made for us

210.                      The little boxed Mr Freeze

211.                      The memory tree I made with things from those who have passed

212.                      Watching jax open his gifts each year

213.                      Having thanksgiving dinner at our house now

214.                      Having thanksgiving not be a remake of the past but a celebration of now with good memories

215.                      The texts from leanne and connection

216.                      The texts and messages from cousins

217.                      Having Harold and Martha with us

218.                      The conversation and learning that always takes place

219.                      The stillness in the neighborhood during holidays

220.                      Our drive to the beach after dinner at thanksgiving

221.                      The lights on Wrightsville beach being up on thanksgiving

222.                      The neighbors having their lights up in the neighborhood on thanksgiving

223.                      The joy of lights in our own tree each year

224.                      Having the chalk nativity from Grandmother lois

225.                      Finding the new nativities each year

226.                      The joy of the new expressions being found in the creches each year

227.                      Ted naos graphic nativities

228.                      Finding the little balls from our first tree and putting them up

229.                      Making a new craft each year for Christmas

230.                      Taking time to create something for the holidays

231.                      The uncw santa hat from mom

232.                      The fiber optic tree for Michael

233.                      Finding the little things for others

234.                      Getting Christmas cards

235.                      Sending Christmas cards

236.                      Making the collages from the Christmas cards

237.                      Moravian cookies

238.                      The Moravian cookies from Winston salem

239.                      Having a boil of cinnamon on the stove for the house

240.                      Turning the corner and seeing the lights in our tree

241.                      The wonderful family on the corner of clear run with the biggish display each year

242.                      Our paper nativities in the library

243.                      Belkie and the reminder of the first Christmas together

244.                      Being able to buy gifts

245.                      Gifts being so different now and learning so much about the need for them

246.                      The joy of seeing a gift appreciated

247.                      The joy of finding a gift

248.                      The gift of being with one another

249.                      Becca’s bounty

250.                      The carousel center giving

251.                      Last year being able to do the Christmas Parade as santa

252.                      Being able to do santa for others

253.                      Being chosen to do a card for people I care about

254.                      Showing up for folks and listening to the needs and desires and hopes

255.                      Those bright eyes and wonder

256.                      The connection to hope and wonder

257.                      Finding another expression of the hope in a nativity

258.                      Finding another little something to create and enjoy for the holidays

259.                      The ref

260.                      Christmas with the Kranks

261.                      A Christmas Carol

262.                      Elf

263.                      The grinch (cartoon!)

264.                      Rudolf

265.                      Christmas and holiday movies

266.                      The Christmas clock making Michael smile

267.                      102.7 playing in the car the whole season long

268.                      The smell of the oranges with cloves

269.                      Making clove oranges for the house

270.                      Egg nog (and for this one, not vegan!...hey, it’s once a year!)

271.                      Pecan pie

272.                      The first nativity that mom and I got together so long ago for me

273.                      Fresh oranges in bowls

274.                      Walnuts in bowls

275.                      Hard candy at the ready

276.                      The sound of a fan running

277.                      The feel of the comforter

278.                      The first settle in in the bed at night

279.                      My ability to run

280.                      The feel of running in my lungs

281.                      The moment in my run when there is that release and I am free to keep going

282.                      The self talk that is positive

283.                      Hearing the talk that is negative and moving through it to good

284.                      The music that moves me in my runs

285.                      The woods behind our home

286.                      Seeing the hawk along Bradley creek

287.                      Turning off the music and hearing the hawk before I see it

288.                      Seeing the little birds chase the big hawk 😊

289.                      Hearing all the birds in the trees around

290.                      Looking up in the trees,my cathedral

291.                      The feel of the wind on my skin

292.                      The feel of the earth under my feet

293.                      The changes in the seasons as I run

294.                      All the plant life in the neighborhood and woods

295.                      Being stopped in my tracks by a new bloom or plant

296.                      Taking and sharing pictures of blooms I see as I run

297.                      Being able to look up and learn about the wildlife on an app and share with others and learn

298.                      Inaturist app

299.                      Lillie Ann Heggins Scholarship Fund

300.                      Better is possible

301.                      Jax’s snoring

302.                      Working at home and sitting at Papa’s desk

303.                      Being in the room and sharing over zoom

304.                      Working over teams

305.                      Loving virtual meetings and connections

306.                      Being able to access information so quickly on one drive

307.                      Having access on my phone to all my work

308.                      The speed of technology

309.                      The access to so much to do more and create

310.                      The ability to reach out and connect to get things done

311.                      The fundraisers on Facebook

312.                      All those who give to fundraisers I put up

313.                      Every dollar every person gives to make things better

314.                      my birthday fundraiser for the heart association

315.                      the efforts to raise money that is so supported for Miracles in Motion

316.                      the support for the Hospital foundation to create better

317.                      our rotary miracles fundraisers and all the ways to support

318.                      the impact of the giving at rotary and the stories of that impact

319.                      the ability to give to other people’s fundraisers in different ways on Facebook

320.                      sharing a space to create that giving

321.                      the ability to turn the holidays into giving and meeting needs

322.                      toys for tots

323.                      the ability to connect with those who need

324.                      Giving Tuesday

325.                      My little remembrance tree

326.                      The space to have some things to remember at Christmas folks who have passed I care for

327.                      Having granddaddy dean’s hunting one shot

328.                      Having my great granddaddy’s pocket knife

329.                      Having my daddy’s pocket knife

330.                      The games in this space

331.                      Being surrounded by good memories

332.                      The little pieces of history all around

333.                      A cup of something warm to drink at the end of the day

334.                      The smile on the neighbors as I leave the house

335.                      The little library we have out front

336.                      Books being dropped off to add to the library

337.                      Books being taken from the library

338.                      The crafts of Susan Henley making the library for us

339.                      Those who really pay attention to giving on that tuesday

340.                      People who start their emails with a hello or a greeting,

341.                      people who in their emails were saying goodbye,

342.                      or some kind of pleasantries,

343.                      The navigation of love I receive

344.                      The move to compassion that has been my constant goal

345.                      The hope that moves me out of my darkness

346.                      The light that is always guiding and giving in dark times

347.                      The signs and the ways I see

348.                      The spirits in the pictures I take

349.                      Being a survivor of the pandemic

350.                      Being a survivor of the AIDS crisis

351.                      Connecting with the trauma of surviving pandemics

352.                      Connecting with recovery of surviving pandemics

353.                      The healing of recovery of pandemics

354.                      Those who help others to heal and connect from the fear and threats

355.                      Continued recognition of world aids day

356.                      For the work to eradicate world aids

357.                      For the work to eradicate polio

358.                      For those who embrace work to bring clean water everywhere

359.                      The Wilmington fire department

360.                      The reduction in risk project

361.                      Working with their pio

362.                      The 125th anniversary

363.                      Love

364.                      Ability to love

365.                      Ability to express love

366.                      Ability to receive love

367.                      Ability to receive a compliment

368.                      Ability to give honest care and compliments

369.                      Ability to hold love and want love as a means to connect with others

370.                      Not coveting love

371.                      Valuing love

372.                      Being honest with others

373.                      Being honest with myself

374.                      Having a voice that is mine

375.                      Having a voice that comes from my own experience

376.                      Being quiet when I have nothing to say

377.                      Laughing at myself without a judgment but as care

378.                      Not taking myself so seriously

379.                      Being proven wrong

380.                      Admitting when I am not on the right path

381.                      Being able to be agile

382.                      Being able to hear and respond

383.                      That gentle hand hold that says all is ok

384.                      Just a simple lean in

385.                      A moment to breath

386.                      Walking away

387.                      Walking by without speaking when I feel the need to fix

388.                      Not tending and befriending

389.                      Not fawning

390.                      Moving away form toxicity and toxic

391.                      Letting others feel and not fixing

392.                      Not looking to be fixed

393.                      Not needing to be the only person who can do something

394.                      Not needing to be needed all the time

395.                      Feeling good about where I am

396.                      The ability to see

397.                      Being in the heart of God

398.                      Not feeling alone even when lonely

399.                      Knowing a presence always

400.                      Being able to create and translate into something good

401.                      Tapping into good with others

402.                      Seeing good in others

403.                      Being able to see clearer and discern without question

404.                      For having neighbors nearby I know are there

405.                      people who call just to check in and not wanting something,

406.                      people who ask rather than assume,

407.                      those who care enough to confirm rather than assume,

408.                      genuine compassion,

409.                      genuine concern,

410.                      learning to check my motives,

411.                      continuous learning

412.                      being able to learn

413.                      being able to comprehend

414.                      being able to process thoughts

415.                      being able to be compassionate

416.                      being able to feel and hear

417.                      being able to process complex ideas

418.                      being able to deep dive into information

419.                      the work of brene brown

420.                      the work of resma menakam

421.                      the work of partrick leonconi

422.                      the adam grant

423.                      the work of edgar shein

424.                      who moved my cheese

425.                      the five minute manager

426.                      the resources of the Harvard business review

427.                      managing up

428.                      the power of habit

429.                      the upside of stress

430.                      the work of dr. Maslach

431.                      understanding the signs of burnout

432.                      understanding what grows and feeds burnout

433.                      seeing changes

434.                      our respectful workplace policy

435.                      our workplace protections policy

436.                      keeping vulnerable populaitons in the line of sight of everyone

437.                      good to great

438.                      good to great for the public sector

439.                      strength finders

440.                      emotional intelligence

441.                      understanding my own q

442.                      building culture

443.                      developing higher levels of communications

444.                      the five dysfunctions of a team

445.                      the anatomy of peace

446.                      having a heart of peace

447.                      seeing people as people and not as obstacles

448.                      creating a culture of people and not as inventory

449.                      fair labor standards act

450.                      Family and Medical Leave act

451.                      Having access to leave that keeps me and all whole

452.                      The fish philosophy

453.                      The polyvagal theory

454.                      The culture code

455.                      Aware by dan seigel

456.                      What happened to you

457.                      Undo it by dean ornish

458.                      Dean ornish

459.                      Plant based living

460.                      Going into my four years without meat

461.                      Eating nothing that has a mother

462.                      Radior candor

463.                      The book of joy

464.                      How to be an anti racist

465.                      The myth of normal

466.                      Micoragressions in everyday life

467.                      America’s racial karma

468.                      The nap ministry

469.                      The nap bishop

470.                      Rest as Resistance, a manifesto

471.                      Sheryl Sandberg

472.                      Option b

473.                      Burnout at work

474.                      Living budha, living christ

475.                      Knowing Buddhism as a practice

476.                      Radical remission

477.                      Caste: the origins of our discontents

478.                      The wounded healer

479.                      The works of Henri Houwen

480.                      12 steps and 12 traditions app

481.                      Dare to lead

482.                      Atlas of the heart

483.                      The body keeps the score

484.                      Spiritual defiance

485.                      The works of bertha todd

486.                      Stephen saylor’s writing

487.                      Finally having all of Stephen Saylors mysteries in hard cover

488.                      The work of leaders

489.                      Visual leaders

490.                      Buddhist boot camp

491.                      Far from the tree

492.                      Crucial conversations

493.                      Crucial accountability

494.                      Visual teams

495.                      Death by meeting

496.                      No mud no lotus

497.                      The happiness project

498.                      Boy erased

499.                      Bird by bird

500.                      The outward mindset

501.                      The four agreements

502.                      All of tom morris’ works

503.                      The five languages of appreciation at work

504.                      Good strategy/bad strategy

505.                      You don’t sweat much for a fat girl

506.                      The search committee

507.                      Blinklist

508.                      Blossom

509.                      My group app

510.                      Mygroup access to legal services

511.                      Legal shield

512.                      ID shield for my credit and dark web monitoring

513.                      Emeritus

514.                      Podbean

515.                      Audible

516.                      Michael’s joy at using my unused credits on audible

517.                      My fitness pal

518.                      Map my run (cause If I don’t post it did not happen)

519.                      Map my bike

520.                      Linkedin education

521.                      Linkenin and seeing the promotions and success of others

522.                      Pay apps and being able to send money to folks to easily

523.                      Pay apps and actually being able to get some money

524.                      My harbor island gc ornaments

525.                      Making dried orange ornaments

526.                      to be able to trust my instincts

527.                      my empathic instincts

528.                      having that moral compass and the direction from my mother still

529.                      having her voice in me even when she is not with me physically

530.                      the life lessons of ada

531.                      seeing mom’s eyes in mine

532.                      seeing daddy in my face

533.                      seeing some good in all of what I see in what makes me me

534.                      hearing me correct negative self talk with out anyone saying it

535.                      the inner dialogue that moves me to do good things for me and others

536.                      the inner dialogue that is supportive

537.                      the inner dialogue that is caring

538.                      understanding it’s not what’s wrong,

539.                      but what happens,

540.                      deepening an understanding of aces,

541.                      understanding,

542.                      aces,

543.                      my five aces

544.                      those who change trajectory

545.                      being someone who can influence trajectory

546.                      seeing generational curses ending with me,

547.                      seeing epigenetic‘s,

548.                      living, epigenetic‘s,

549.                      making the connections around historical trauma,

550.                      Seeing how historical trauma lives in communities,

551.                      understanding,

552.                      public values,

553.                      and how they influence,

554.                      applying public values in situations as they arise,

555.                      the work of Philip Boyle,

556.                      the School Of Government,

557.                      seeing alignment in the good that is done in the community

558.                      the violence interrupters

559.                      the call center

560.                      all the response to the community on the ground

561.                      the fierceness of the recognition committee

562.                      the dedication of those to recognition and care

563.                      always being ready to create good for others

564.                      making better connections to those who do for others

565.                      the influence of good governance,

566.                      how public values create differences and influence actions,

567.                      how understanding public values can help and inform the work of people I’m around,

568.                      Seeing toys for tots boxes in fire,

569.                      houses, overflow,

570.                      the Santa letter box in porters neck,

571.                      taking pictures for a postcard at porters neck,

572.                      seeing the letters from Santa on the table,

573.                      the joys of riding back to Santa letters from those involved,

574.                      standing on corners,

575.                      filling the boots for MDA,

576.                      The service above what is required at all times,

577.                      seeing deputies at Special Olympics,

578.                      being able to play Santa for Special Olympics,

579.                      being Santa in the Christmas parade,

580.                      sharing the eyes of the wide,

581.                      and the hopeful at Christmas,

582.                      the fast travel down MLK to downtown from the house,

583.                      Being able to get across the bridge quickly to doctors,

584.                      the wildflowers along MLK, the view from the Isabella Holmes bridge,

585.                      the ever-changing waterfront of downtown,

586.                      the green lights on the buildings for veterans,

587.                      for the LINC living and housing outs on county property,

588.                      for children in juvenile detention,

589.                      having video access for visitation,

590.                      or in person visitation to be happening again,

591.                      for all the technological advances in our court systems,

592.                      and New Hanover County, for being the leader, in efficiencies in the state of North Carolina

593.                      imports, for the advances in our DUI courts,

594.                      for having a court specifically, addressing the needs of babies,

595.                      we’re having a court specifically, addressing the needs of veterans and substance abuse,

596.                      for having one of the finest courts for drug abuse and substance misuse disorder,

597.                      for some of the finest judges in the state of North Carolina,

598.                      Trauma informed practice in the court system,

599.                      The sea turtle watch for Wrightsville Beach,

600.                      the sea turtle Hospital, at topsail Beach,

601.                      for our adopted turtle each year,

602.                      for all those who understand the value of preserving and keeping the turtles alive and well,

603.                      for all who understand the value of all of the wildlife in the oceans,

604.                      the legacy and life and care of Jean Beasley, the thousands of Nests that harvested turtles this year,

605.                      all who watched and cared for the nests this year,

606.                      relatively mild season for the environment.

607.                      Overall, those who are vigilant about not developing areas that environmentally or unsound‘s,

608.                      Cama,

609.                      those who drive with care for others,

610.                      those who use their signals and traffic,

611.                      those who see a vehicle as transport and not a weapon,

612.                      those who see a horn as a warning and not an aggressive tool,

613.                      those who get in line when traffic is bad and don’t try to jump ahead,

614.                      Those who wave or give a signal when allowed to get into traffic,

615.                      those who actually acknowledge other people out of your way stop,

616.                      those who give a signal when there is a speed trap,

617.                      those who care when they’re driving about other people not just themselves,

618.                      those who are informed that speed does not get you there faster lol,

619.                      those who put positive bumper stickers on their cars

620.                      those who put welcoming signs on their houses of worship

621.                      those who express care and concern in places that are public

622.                      those who offer welcome and grace

623.                      the sign that offers peace at the episcopal church on Market

624.                      de escalating my own anxiety and driving over the years,

625.                      those who are mindful of workers on the road and the precariousness of their work,

626.                      those who move as much as possible away from any responder that is part on the side,

627.                      those who get away from and steer as clear as they can from responders when they are trying to get through traffic,

628.                      those who do not wear earphones so they can hear responders and others,

629.                      those who keep their radios haven’t reasonable level so not to disturb other people and neighborhoods, those who do not have those ridiculous mufflers,

630.                      those who get regular inspections and don’t have exhaust that stifle others,

631.                      those who keep their windows up when they smoke so that runners and bikers don’t have to smell the smoke,

632.                      those who are mindful of runners,

633.                      those who are respectful of bikers,

634.                      bikers who understand how to operate on a road,

635.                      bikers and walkers who know how to operate on a road,

636.                      those who behave in neighborhoods when they cut through,

637.                      those who are mindful of speed in residential areas,

638.                      those who watch for folks walking dogs when there are no sidewalks,

639.                      those who break for squirrels and other wildlife,

640.                      the cardinals that swoop on my vehicle when I enter the neighborhood,

641.                      the rabbits on the trail, the rabbits on the south end of the island,

642.                      those who are particularly careful driving on the island,

643.                      those who know pedestrians have the right away,

644.                      those who return their carts,

645.                      those who return other peoples carts,

646.                      having my coffee bought for me in line,

647.                      learning I am the upteenth person to buy the coffee of someone behind me,

648.                      buying the coffee behind me of someone who I might have cut off accidentally,

649.                      being able to make amends,

650.                      those who wear masks without a grudge when it is still required

651.                      those who just do what is asked by businesses or places

652.                      those who take the time to listen

653.                      knowing amends means to change not just to apologize,

654.                      making changes,

655.                      the best nurses in the world had it stamped urology,

656.                      feeling the power of having some control over my own body,

657.                      being able to say thank you to an EMS worker,

658.                      the beautiful sculptures outside of Waterford,

659.                      not having to fight this traffic in Leland every day lol,

660.                      places that landscape with native plants,

661.                      places that preserve native growth,

662.                      halyburton park

663.                      places that plant trees,

664.                      neighborhoods that keep plantings on the regular,

665.                      people who stay off their phones when they’re driving,

666.                      people who actually go in the light changes,

667.                      people who rent places to live and treat them as their own home,

668.                      landlords that care about their tenants,

669.                      people who use section 8 vouchers,

670.                      landlords that honor,

671.                      section 8 vouchers,

672.                      our public housing in New Hanover County,

673.                      subsidized, housing for seniors,

674.                      the William Hooper apartments,

675.                      the assisted-living and nursing home board,

676.                      the Pearce house,

677.                      Elderhaus

678.                      all of the homes for persons with disabilities,

679.                      all of the homes that provide safe space for persons in recovery,

680.                      the life and legacy of Wayne Ray,

681.                      the views of the Cape Fear river from the bridge,

682.                      sitting along the Riverwalk, and watching the river,

683.                      the sunsets over the river,

684.                      the beauty of the clouds driving along,

685.                      MLK, ghost trees,

686.                      the marshlands,

687.                      the nest atop the goats tree along MLK,

688.                      the corn maze,

689.                      the flower farms out in Castle, Hayne,

690.                      the five oaks nursery,

691.                      My favorite coffee at PCJ,

692.                      finding new coffee places with friends,

693.                      all the new coffee shops around Wilmington,

694.                      All the fresh baked goods at the complex bean,

695.                      the almond cookie sugar latte at Starbucks,

696.                      sharing pictures on Instagram,

697.                      staying connected on Facebook with friends,

698.                      getting rid of my Twitter,

699.                      enjoying the fun on tik T.O.K,

700.                      having my iPad as another resource now,

701.                      Michael laugh,

702.                      watching something and feeling some joy,

703.                      laying on the floor next to jax,

704.                      laying on the floor.,

705.                      legs up against the wall,

706.                      my bolster and using it for restorative yoga,

707.                      having restorative practices that are so helpful,

708.                      being informed about restorative practices,

709.                      having audible as one of the apps to keep me connected to books that I can listen to,

710.                      having my apple books depository,

711.                      having the three minute and five minutes summaries online of information that I can tap into regularly,

712.                      precipio,

713.                      Seeing plants go through their full cycles

714.                      Showing up for my runs

715.                      Not giving up on being out even when I cycle through periods

716.                      Going out to the beach and running there

717.                      Finding a new place to park this year and finding regular wash ups of shells on my run

718.                      Finding an app for parking that does not fail me

719.                      No tickets this year

720.                      Having access to friends who will let me park

721.                      Being able to run

722.                      Having the sound of the ocean fill my entire body

723.                      Finding my olives in random places

724.                      People who wave as they pass

725.                      Seeing people I know from time to time

726.                      Seeing dogs on the beach after season

727.                      Feeling the water on my feet at the edge of the tide

728.                      Feeling very connected to my mother on the beach

729.                      Remembering my daddy looking at big waves

730.                      “hear comes the judge”

731.                      Seeing folks on the water having fun

732.                      Watching the birds on the beach being left along and enjoying their own lives

733.                      Catching a pic of birds in flight

734.                      Sharing moments on the beach with others

735.                      Sharing beach wildlife

736.                      Finding new beach wildlife

737.                      Being awed constantly and never not being by the wonder of it all

738.                      The restorative of the beach and all of it

739.                      Having friends that will allow me to come to figure eight to walk

740.                      Walking through the harborway gardens

741.                      The smell of the roses in the gardens

742.                      Running the loop and restoring at the end in the gardens

743.                      The famers market in harborway

744.                      The bricks we have gotten in harborway to honor others

745.                      The life of Dr. Nesbitt

746.                      The life of Dorothy nesbitt

747.                      The wb foundation

748.                      Remembering childhood memories on the beach and not being bitter about changes

749.                      The turn on the loop to the bridges and the breeze being restorative from the heat off lumina

750.                      Launching the kayak under the bridge

751.                      Taking off to the reeds

752.                      Passing by the diminishing republic and watching all the dogs having fun

753.                      Getting out of the boat traffic and slowing down

754.                      Hearing the lapping of the water against the reeds

755.                      Getting into the reeds and feeling like being a million miles away

756.                      Reading in the reeds and rocking back and forth

757.                      Being lost in the water

758.                      The jumping fish in the summer

759.                      The blue crabs in the shallows

760.                      The crabs in the mud

761.                      The feel of the pull of the tides coming back in

762.                      The mud under my toes putting the boat back in

763.                      The expansiveness of the clouds from the boat looking up

764.                      Taking a paddle in the October and November and the sun going down on the way in

765.                      Running my fingers in the water as I move through

766.                      The coolness of the water

767.                      The feel of the water splash back as I paddle

768.                      The runs in the kayak in places all over

769.                      Having kayaks

770.                      Hook line and paddle

771.                      Being able to take them out whenever I want

772.                      All the places I can do with them

773.                      The freedom of being on the water

774.                      Having access to places that are relatively safe

775.                      Having kayak launches in most places

776.                      The runs in Carolina beach state park

777.                      The run up sugar loaf

778.                      The enormous spiders and their amazing webs

779.                      The flat lands and the grasses and pass throughs in the park

780.                      The feel of the intensity of the sun in the park

781.                      River road access to the river

782.                      Paddling out to the islands

783.                      Exploring the sharks tooth and others

784.                      Feeling the movement of the river underneath the boat

785.                      Being able to take walks together

786.                      Just being on the trails with one another

787.                      Taking jax with us on the trails

788.                      The view from the dock at pages creek

789.                      Seeing jax stick his little nose into the wind

790.                      The chickens next door

791.                      The horses next door

792.                      The trail around the perimeter

793.                      The ease of the trail

794.                      The boat storage there

795.                      All the birds out on the creek

796.                      Sharing time together there

797.                      Being able to go out to abbey preserve

798.                      The swing at abbey preserve

799.                      Spending time with scott out there

800.                      Finding my way out to the fields

801.                      Discovering new wildlife

802.                      The passion flowers at abbey preserve

803.                      The butterflies

804.                      Having some of the preserve saved from the horrible development that is going in

805.                      Seeing the farm animals next door

806.                      Enjoying the old mill pond at abbey preserve

807.                      The giant mill stones left around the mill pond

808.                      The beautiful cypress knees around the pond

809.                      More of the spider webs and most above the head so to pass

810.                      The birds in the trees and the sound all around

811.                      The ease to get out there with the bypass and not having to go up market! 😊

812.                      The river walk

813.                      Running the river walk in its fullest this summer.

814.                      Seeing how the riverwalk had extended down to the Isabel holmes bridge!

815.                      The view from the riverwalk of the river

816.                      The space to be able to run and share with others as I went along

817.                      Having a neighborhood in our own home to get out and walk jax

818.                      Being able to walk with him with sidewalks

819.                      Having a dog that is not sighted and seeing him navigate the world with such joy

820.                      Watching him use the pads of his feet to know the different surfaces as we walk

821.                      His moving form concrete to grass and knowing how to stay moving forward

822.                      His passing under the pampas grass and enjoying the feel of it on his body

823.                      His engagement with other dogs

824.                      That waggy tail

825.                      His greeting me at the door with such joy

826.                      Pressing up against me in the bed

827.                      Moving between us to share that warmth and love

828.                      Putting his paw on my foot when we sit together

829.                      Bringing me to toy when I come home

830.                      Playing tug of war constantly

831.                      Moving every single toy out and being able to find every single one of them

832.                      The absolute obsessiveness when he gets a hymalaya stick

833.                      His love of Miss Katy and going to see her

834.                      The “best day ever” and her shop that allow him so much joy

835.                      Picking out his treats in her shop

836.                      The jumping parade when we say “treat” and going to get them

837.                      Waiting till we say “eat” and then standing with him so he knows its ok

838.                      His sitting on the couch and listening for us to come home

839.                      Being able to watch him on the cameras when I am at work

840.                      Watching him walk with Michael

841.                      The wag of the tail when he hears our voices

842.                      Knowing he knows and responds to our voices differently

843.                      Him still crawling up in Michael’s lap

844.                      11 years with us now

845.                      Sitting with me wherever I go in the house

846.                      His unabated joy when we go to the beach

847.                      The way he took to the truck

848.                      His love of all things “our food”

849.                      His putting his head on Michael’s leg when he eats with such hope!

850.                      Just hearing him breath

851.                      His running in his sleep

852.                      Gently waking him when he is dreaming

853.                      The little whimpers as he dreams

854.                      Know exactly where to do his business when we walk

855.                      The grounds all around us being so well taken care of

856.                      The tree coverage all around us

857.                      The foxes that come out to drink

858.                      Our turtles in the ponds

859.                      Such beautiful wildflowers everywhere we look

860.                      Being able to bike around here and on campus

861.                      Being so close to the cross city trail

862.                      Being able to get Michael an electric bike

863.                      Our many bike excursions this summer

864.                      My new bike last Christmas

865.                      Bike cycles bike shop

866.                      Seeing the owner, sean on the trail

867.                      The goodness of small business owners

868.                      The good service form Bike Cycles all these years

869.                      The shear joy of riding my bike

870.                      The speed and wind and feel of absolute childlike joy

871.                      The moving in and out between the hashmarks on the trail and dodging them on the bike

872.                      The racing with Michael even with his electric power 😊

873.                      The joy of being outside with him

874.                      Being able to go to the new starbucks on the trail

875.                      Stopping with our bikes and enjoying a tea or coffee

876.                      The hill form the pond at autumn hall and the speed

877.                      That trial from the trasks through that property from the trail from UNCW

878.                      Our ability to get to it from our house through the woods

879.                      Just seeing Michael smile and have fun on the bike

880.                      Our race up chancellor’s walk

881.                      Taking the bike to work in the morning

882.                      Having my bike to do what I want

883.                      Being able to breathe

884.                      Being able to pee (and if you have ever had cancer, you know)

885.                      Not taking my body for granted

886.                      Being able to walk much less run

887.                      Being able to move around and take care of myself

888.                      Moving through and taking care of myself

889.                      Enjoying moments pain free

890.                      Not having to take many pills or pain meds

891.                      Being able to enjoy life, one day at a time

892.                      Having a vehicle I can load our bikes in now and go anywhere with them

893.                      Being able to buy a vehicle

894.                      Having a great place to buy from

895.                      For Cape Fear Audi

896.                      For the cape fear audi service team

897.                      The cape fear audi sales team and fairness

898.                      Feeling safe in a vehicle

899.                      Traveling and feeling safe in weather

900.                      Traveling and feeling safe in traffic

901.                      Traveling together with less anxiety

902.                      Stopping to just relax on the trips on the bike

903.                      The Blumenthal garden on campus

904.                      The carnivorous plants garden on campus

905.                      The new part of the walk through the new housing

906.                      Seeing the nesting sculpture in tribute to pat placed on campus

907.                      Being able to pat tribute to Pat Leonard and her dedication

908.                      The life of pat Leonard

909.                      Having the rec center named for pat

910.                      Having another building/place in the city of Wilmington named for one of our own

911.                      For all that she endured seeing it with the resolve of good

912.                      The distractors having noting to show for the harm they tried to do

913.                      The love that continues for the love of her life

914.                      The legacy on the campus of UNCW that cannot be taken away

915.                      The commons on campus with all the ponds and plantings

916.                      Knowing the history and enjoying seeing this

917.                      The legacy and care of jim Leutze

918.                      Riding past the plaque on the cross city trail on campus

919.                      The legacy of rosemary dePaolo

920.                      The honors college going strong

921.                      The legacy of Diane Levy and Kate Bruce

922.                      the pines on the front of campus

923.                      running through the front of campus on the twists and turns of the campus trial and enjoying all of that through

924.                      seeing all of the plantings along rose growing strong

925.                      feeling the world close out entering behind the neighborhood on the trail

926.                      the light as it moves through the pines and finds it way to me

927.                      way to the Creekside and the trail that runs along that side

928.                      the coming of the new trail as that creek project moves through

929.                      running through the neighborhood

930.                      the additional space for running and biking along cardinal and oriole

931.                      the way through autumn hall and over to eastwood for safety and beauty

932.                      the trail down eastwood

933.                      the passage under the bridge at Wrightsville

934.                      the trail up military cutoff

935.                      being able to go to brookgreen at Christmas

936.                      the night of 1000 candles preview

937.                      enjoying walking together in the lights

938.                      spinning under the massive oaks

939.                      enjoying the music of Randy McQuay echoing through the park

940.                      the sound of the brass band at the front welcoming us in

941.                      the joy of the food through out

942.                      the harpist in the midst of lit fields

943.                      the stations of attendants smiling and ready

944.                      the enormous and wonderous works of art throughout the park.

945.                      The conversation up and down for the visit.

946.                      The arrival early and going over to Adelia and seeing the summer house and beach

947.                      The beauty of all of the integration of the lights into the gardens

948.                      Flowers and plants still blooming in the chill of the air as we walk

949.                      The feeling of holiday in this place with such care

950.                      The candles flickering

951.                      Stopping and sitting and talking in the park

952.                      Holding hands and walking together

953.                      The giant trees being lit with color

954.                      The children’s garden in multicolor

955.                      The statuary

956.                      The look on the statuary of st. francis

957.                      the statuary at night

958.                      the cranberry fountain

959.                      Reflections of massive trees in the water

960.                      Illusions of the lights deepened in fountains

961.                      The long driveway of light into the garden

962.                      the amazing nonprofits in our area

963.                      nonprofit that are about the mission and service to the community

964.                      the miracle league of Wilmington

965.                      the honor of announcing the games on Saturdays during the season

966.                      the weekly witness of the players of the miracle league

967.                      the enormity of the abilities of the players

968.                      seeing a long-time player roll herself to the bases and around the bases unassisted

969.                      seeing a player stand and walk for the first time to come home

970.                      watching these players grow up

971.                      being able to see the expressions of the parents/guardians/grands etc.

972.                      the joy

973.                      the fun

974.                      the happiness

975.                      the witness of accomplishment

976.                      oh my god, the hugs!

977.                      Being able to hug again

978.                      Being able to connect over this common inclusion

979.                      being bound as a group who care so deeply about all people

980.                      finding a source of myself on that field each time I am there

981.                      the legacy of Dan Johnson and vision

982.                      the legacy and vision of David Morrison

983.                      the work and hands of Alan Gregory

984.                      the granddaddy of our field Rocky Campagna

985.                      the juice and source for moving forward that keeps under all with Pete Hexter

986.                      the kyle Anderson field house

987.                      the life of kyle Anderson

988.                      the trot and Kathryn Nixon outfield

989.                      the roya and henry weyerhauser dugout

990.                      the campagna dugout

991.                      the Mckenzie picnic shelter

992.                      robert mckenzie

993.                      the Katherine mckenzie beeper bases

994.                      the support of ortho Wilmington

995.                      the Wilmington Kiwanis miracle league playground

996.                      the sound of voices and laughter on that playground

997.                      seeing mere on that playground having such fun and enjoying herself

998.                      seeing these youngin’s just be free to be themselves in whatever way shows up for them

999.                      the amazing professional and trained staff of access of Wilmington

1000.                  the changes in the overall wellness and fitness of those who participate

1001.                  the engagement and relationships that are deeply formed and made in this work

1002.                  the creation of better lives and better living

1003.                  the legacy of Wayne Ray being lifted in our miracles in motion

1004.                  our miracles in motion moving forward and continuing on

1005.                  station 18 coming out on Saturdays

1006.                  the fire service members joining in the games

1007.                  the look of joy when the players see the engine pull up

1008.                  the engagement of the players when they see the fire service making the connection on the field

1009.                  the Murrayville station being there and taking such good care of Mrs. Olsen

1010.                  our mother and founder of the park, Mrs. Olsen

1011.                  Olsen park

1012.                  The legacy of the Olsen farms 

1013.                  Knowing and talking to peggy

1014.                  Our board leadership

1015.                  The access board

1016.                  The amazing dedication of our fundraising queen Laura

1017.                  The example and work of our chair Cathy

1018.                  The snacks each week from KBT reality

1019.                  The parks company  making an office for us

1020.                  All the sponsors for the teams

1021.                  Country club of landfall always sponsoring

1022.                  The rehab clinic at NHRMC Novant always sponsors

1023.                  Having all the UNCW students come out and volunteer

1024.                  All the buddies that come so that caretakers can sit in the stands and enjoy

1025.                  The rec. therapy student

1026.                  The social work students

1027.                  The nursing student

1028.                  The ed student

1029.                  The panhellenic counsel and different orgs

1030.                  The athletes that come

1031.                  The celebrities that give of their time and talent to make appearances can get involved

1032.                  Having news agencies come out and cover events and share this special place

1033.                  Having some of the elected share this and see the possible

1034.                  The outside agency funding from the county

1035.                  The support from the hospital

1036.                  The veterans program, project soar growing t

1037.                  The growth of the veterans overall

1038.                  The golf tournament

1039.                  Rarely seeing a drop or rain or a cloud during a game

1040.                  The messages from players in between games

1041.                  The fly overs at just the right times

1042.                  The travel ball players coming over and often times being moved to tears

1043.                  Being told off if I get the song wrong

1044.                  Getting the thumbs up when I am on point with the song  and the name

1045.                  Seeing the love when the names are called

1046.                  Seeing the joy when going around those bases

1047.                  The connection with the players and the buddies

1048.                  The deep care of the pitcher

1049.                  The deep care of those on the field

1050.                  Having the railroad folks come out from southeastern freight and do hotdogs for the season ending

1051.                  The charity groups making good happen all over the place

1052.                  The pink ladies

1053.                  The laymon group, year after year

1054.                  Seeing alexa run in the race

1055.                  Seeing friant just make a meal of it with such style

1056.                  All those starting together

1057.                  A fully inclusive race with no barriers

1058.                  All those who see inclusion as the way for all activies

1059.                  From the other to us and together

1060.                  Seeing more and more spaces where this is happening

1061.                  Always being the place where this made the first

1062.                  Seeing david roll through

1063.                  Six ways to get into the game

1064.                  Seeing central rotary get out

1065.                  Being back in central rotary

1066.                  Being home again

1067.                  Being on the board and having a sense of place

1068.                  The feel of connection and love

1069.                  Being active in a group that is cohesive

1070.                  Following the four way test

1071.                  Living the four way test

1072.                  Meeting at Wrightsville beach brewery

1073.                  The leadership of the group

1074.                  The miracles of rotary

1075.                  Intentional giving with no politics

1076.                  Creating ways to support the community on the regular

1077.                  The best committee in the history of rotary: the social committee

1078.                  Being with cousin dean lol!
meeting new and good people

1079.                  Spending time and connecting

1080.                  Hearing great speakers who make a difference

1081.                  Using what I learn to make a difference in work and the community

1082.                  Continuing to bring in new members

1083.                  Seeing others value this and make the connection

1084.                  Following up on the purse project this summer

1085.                  Seeing so many people participate in such a powerful project

1086.                  Connecting bags with women in need

1087.                  Resourcing opportunities for ways to create good for the unsheltered

1088.                  Meeting those who make that good happen

1089.                  Over 300 purses created

1090.                  Standing on the shoulders of those who started such a great project

1091.                  Being in the room with folks as they stuffed the purses

1092.                  Having friends from work who came and helped

1093.                  Having friends from work who create those bags

1094.                  The amazing folks from Brunswick forest who gave so many bags to this project

1095.                  Having stricklands curtains as a place we could create all this

1096.                  The staff at stricklands for being so helpful

1097.                  Our rotary banquet and awards

1098.                  Being in rotary at all

1099.                  Being a part of something bigger than myself that connects to service

1100.                  Bringing people to is and letting them see that connection

1101.                  Being able to officiate the wedding of Nadine

1102.                  Officiate tammy’s son

1103.                  The honor of seeing the eyes of those binding up in marriage

1104.                  The beauty of the ceremony in the courthouse

1105.                  Blackberries in the woods

1106.                  Remembering as a kid finding those blackberries on granddaddy dean’s farm

1107.                  Finding a mulberry tree this year

1108.                  The beauty berries

1109.                  The finding of the grapes

1110.                  The memories of tim and all of us with the grapes

1111.                  Seeing lauren and Stephen start their place of gathering

1112.                  The flavors of ice cream after grandparents

1113.                  Seeing the boys in their trucks

1114.                  Riding on the trailer

1115.                  Visiting with brooks

1116.                  Spending time up the road

1117.                  Knowing how much daddy would have loved all of that

1118.                  Feeling mother so closely with all of them

1119.                  Being given a PFFA jacket

1120.                  Seeing Carla get an award

1121.                  Watching carla navigate all the news cycles

1122.                  The amazing work of Carla to make the community safer and healthier

1123.                  Coming together to make our love banner for Ukraine

1124.                  Sharing that banner with Ukrainians through tri

1125.                  The tri work with resilience with Ukrainians on line

1126.                  Elaine and Mike with Amy and so many other reaching Ukrainians

1127.                  Making a connection to reach out here with one another

1128.                  The actual image and connection for peace and love

1129.                  Panacea allowing us to come together and make it happen

1130.                  Panacea making space for good all the time

1131.                  Panacea brewing and vegan fabulousness

1132.                  Tidal creek coop

1133.                  The amazing Wrightsville beach brewery food

1134.                  Sea level

1135.                  My veggie build in the morning

1136.                  The young man knowing my order at PCJ in the morning

1137.                  The little happy that comes with sweet d’s

1138.                  Having lunch at Cameron

1139.                  Being outside at Poe’s

1140.                  Enjoying going to Blueberry

1141.                  Sharing time over a meal

1142.                  The legacy of Josh living on in tower 7

1143.                  The legacy of cindy and josh in all the restaraunts

1144.                  The legacy of Josh Vach and life well lived

1145.                  K Bueno

1146.                  Best street corn ever at k Bueno

1147.                  So many choices for places to go

1148.                  the gardens at indochine

1149.                  indochine express

1150.                  the best veggie curry at indochine

1151.                  being able to get curry that is mild

1152.                  watching the sunset on the north end at the roundabout

1153.                  taking a to go and sitting at the water transfer place on the island and watching the sunset

1154.                  being able to share my telemedicine appointment with the sunset

1155.                  the writing of Celia Rivenbark

1156.                  the life and legacy of Philip Gerard

1157.                  the life changing work of Philip Gerard

1158.                  so many lives made better and more open because of Philip Gerard

1159.                  ATD

1160.                  SHRM

1161.                  Wilmington Chamber Leadership Wilmington

1162.                  Leadership Wilmington Alumni Council

1163.                  Street team

1164.                  The street sheet

1165.                  The poster presentations from the MPA Students

1166.                  Wellness incentives

1167.                  Wellness activities for all employees

1168.                  The red cross

1169.                  The blood drives

1170.                  The incentives for the blood drives for employees

1171.                  The ywca of the lower cape fear

1172.                  The anti racism campaign of the YWCA

1173.                  The women of achievement awards for the YWCA

1174.                  The place to swim and create real and sustainable change for our youth

1175.                  Those who see the value in ALL youth sports and engagement

1176.                  The boys and girls club

1177.                  The track that can be built on the north side

1178.                  The two clubs coming together and possibly merging

1179.                  NHC endowment looking to build out more working together

1180.                  Possibility of money going into the community

1181.                  The care for social emotional learning

1182.                  The understanding of engaged learners

1183.                  The work of diversity, equity,and inclusion in all areas of learning and engagement

1184.                  Those who see they are their brothers and sisters keepers

1185.                  Those who hold love above all else

1186.                  Those who hold care and giving about self interests

1187.                  The air we breathe

1188.                  The sun that nurtures

1189.                  The wind that cools

1190.                  the seasons that still change

1191.                  the rains that replenish

1192.                  not having a drought of any kind this year

1193.                  finishing this hurricane season in a mild way

1194.                  having water to water our garden

1195.                  having access to water from a sewer system

1196.                  having a sewer system that works

1197.                  having a sewer system that is not on a septic tank

1198.                  the service of our

1199.                  having electricity that is dependable

1200.                  having electricity at all

1201.                  having electricity that is up and running fairly quickly after weather events

1202.                  having service after accidents and issues

1203.                  being on a grid that is maintain and not fragile

1204.                  being

1205.                  The options becoming more available to plant based in places all over

1206.                  The garden burger at PT’s 😊

1207.                  Not having to wear masks all the time

1208.                  Having masks when we needed to wear them

1209.                  Wearing masks when needed to

1210.                  Having a mask mandate for better health when it was needed

1211.                  Being in an org that requires vaccinations

1212.                  Being in an org that believes in science and follows it

1213.                  Being an org that protects and thinks about the safety of those we serve

1214.                  Being an org that protects and thinks about the safety of those WHO serve

1215.                  Black eyed peas with a dime in the pot on new years

1216.                  Collards on new years

1217.                  Momas swing at Carolina beach board walk

1218.                  Sharing time on the swing with Harold

1219.                  Someone ALWAYS being in that swing

1220.                  Always being a sing when going to the swing

1221.                  Cracker barrel biscuits

1222.                  A little cheese cheat now and then

1223.                  Kind cultures

1224.                  Kind cultures onion dip

1225.                  Christmas and cheese straws

1226.                  The ginger cookies in the big tin at Christmas

1227.                  Making dried orange ornaments

1228.                  The smell of my clove oranges that are years old now

1229.                  The click of the crystal ornaments as they come out of their little red boxes

1230.                  The Harvey firestein ornament

1231.                  The HRC ornament from mother

1232.                  My santa from the 70s from Mexico

1233.                  The little bell I made in third grade

1234.                  The elf from mother from the 40s

1235.                  The angels we have collected, one for each year for 26 years around the top of the tree

1236.                  The new rosewood nativity

1237.                  The new tin nativity from Haiti

1238.                  The new wooden Danish holy family

1239.                  The new nativity form eclipse

1240.                  Decorating in stages this year so it is not overwhelming

1241.                  Giving our gifts in stockings this year

1242.                  Making the gifts fit the stockings

1243.                  The new stockings themselves

1244.                  Rose petal ornaments

1245.                  Riding on a latter truck

1246.                  Our tree in the office

1247.                  Sharing our traditions

1248.                  Our swap in the office at the holiday gathering

1249.                  The judging of decorations at HHS

1250.                  The bribes for the judges

1251.                  The best santa ever in economic case work 😊

1252.                  The facebook posts on any holiday to parents/gaurdians from Justine!

1253.                  hearing form Communities in schools outside of our work with them

1254.                  our CIS project with reading to children at College Park

1255.                  the pass program that was started at NHC with our Professional Development Academy

1256.                  the day of the EOG’s and the pass program tutors being on site to cheer on the kids

1257.                  seeing the interactions and love of the kids and the tutors

1258.                  being “in the sun” at college park

1259.                  the amazing “new” elementary school that is college park and all that they did with it

1260.                  watching the kids come in and get ready for their tests

1261.                  the care that the PDA had and have for these students

1262.                  the over all PASS program itself

1263.                  CIS getting the large donation for its own
CIS being the sponsor for the Resilience Task force

1264.                  The resilience task force of NHC

1265.                  Over 100 signers for task force

1266.                  The amazing leadership for the task force

1267.                  The leadership of Tina

1268.                  The leadership of J’vanete

1269.                  Being co-chairs with cliff

1270.                  The awesome steering committee

1271.                  The service and creation of Scott Whistnant

1272.                  Scott being able to retire and have some time to do what he wants to do

1273.                  The data to support the work of the task force

1274.                  Having new members of the steering committee to create and support the work

1275.                  the legacy of Scott that lives in us and what we are still doing

1276.                  the Racial Equity training that is going on

1277.                  the resilience model training that is now internationally known and respected

1278.                  being a part of some training for other orgs

1279.                  the hip hop collective

1280.                  training at DC Virgo

1281.                  seeing this resilience light up in DC virgo

1282.                  witnessing the good that is happening in DC virgo

1283.                  reaching out and getting the desks for stations in the rooms from donors for resets in the room

1284.                  restorative justice in DC Virgo

1285.                  using the skills in the school for the children

1286.                  creating a way forward in the schools

1287.                  the work of Amy Horgan and the team

1288.                  the leadership of Sabrina Hill-Black

1289.                  the Watson College of Education

1290.                  Having a lab school

1291.                  Making a difference in public education

1292.                  Seeing real differences in communities with the community

1293.                  Creating better

1294.                  Showing up at the school for the children as they arrive for school

1295.                  the leadership of the Healthy Blue Initiative

1296.                  training and brining CRM and resilience across southeastern nc

1297.                  working to bring resilience and skills to foster children and families and supports

1298.                  the leadership and work of Kelly Purcell

1299.                  the voice, heart and spirit of kelly

1300.                  the mentorship of kelly

1301.                  the leadership from Amy Read and Coastal Horizons

1302.                  my sister from another mister

1303.                  my co-trainer and conspirator

1304.                  training in pender county schools

1305.                  having the reset nows in the judicial building

1306.                  seeing data that shows how effective this work is

1307.                  working with a team for Wilmington health

1308.                  the team at Wilmington health

1309.                  our month resilience meetings

1310.                  the monthly steering committee meetings

1311.                  the transformative nature of the work from the task force

1312.                  the subcommittee works

1313.                  the reach of the subcommittee

1314.                  resilience in action

1315.                  reaching over 2800 since the start of the pandemic

1316.                  the regular positive posts and influence of the site

1317.                  using the resources

1318.                  seeing how the skills show up in me the more I use and teach them

1319.                  the work connecting and inspiring with others

1320.                  seeing empathy and compassion moving in and through to help in other critical areas

1321.                  the work of the carousel center

1322.                  the restorative means for this extraordinary work

1323.                  the leadership of Amy Feath

1324.                  the response it is the team from her when she is recognized

1325.                  training for us all to be more responsive to children in our line of site who might be victimized

1326.                  recognize and respond

1327.                  the work in the courts an hold perpetrators accountable

1328.                  law enforcement for being more responsive

1329.                  the courts for being there and be on it

1330.                  the DA’s office for being very clear about accountability regarding harm to children

1331.                  the work of habitat for humanity

1332.                  the habitat restore

1333.                  the affordable housing coalition

1334.                  the phenomenal partnerships and work for the displaced WHA residents

1335.                  the concern and care for those resident in meeting needs

1336.                  NHC in responding to needs for street outreach for unhoused populations

1337.                  the work of Hattie

1338.                  the work of Rose

1339.                  the work and life long commitment in all circumstances of Mrs. Hamilton

1340.                  the resilience packets from Resources for resilience

1341.                  resources for resilience

1342.                  the Disaster coalition

1343.                  the leadership of derek mccleod

1344.                  having the partnership of good shepherd

1345.                  the extraordinary work of the good shepherd center

1346.                  WARM ministries

1347.                  the harrleson center having places for events

1348.                  rip the runway being back

1349.                  the scholarship being back up and making its way to youth in college

1350.                  being asked to be on the runway

1351.                  the work of b and suprena

1352.                  the joy that is all about the event for port city rip the runway

1353.                  the witness of inclusion with rip

1354.                  Sunday brunch with b

1355.                  Literally getting through on some weekends because of b and gospel brunch

1356.                  The nursing Sankofa school of suprena

1357.                  The music and work to make a better world for all of all of the hickman work

1358.                  The witness of Sandra McClammy

1359.                  The dj joy of Sandra at the heart walk

1360.                  Our annual picture

1361.                  Creating such a vibe of good wherever she goes

1362.                  The tik tok happiness of Sandra

1363.                  The leadership of Sandra at uncw

1364.                  The LS “Bo” Dean Scholarship for Honors Scholars at UNCW

1365.                  The Ada Zola King Dean Nursing Honors Scholarship at UNCW

1366.                  The Nancy Loyce Phelps Hodges MPA Scholarship at UNCW

1367.                  The Bruce/Levy Honors Scholarship at UNCW

1368.                  The Thad Dankel Mathematics Scholarship at UNCW

1369.                  The Katherine McKenzie Glow Scholarship at the Watson School of Education

1370.                  The Bobby Dean Fund at Cameron Art Museum

1371.                  The Freeze Stine scholarship for Women and Mothers at CFCC

1372.                  The  Windell Daniels Scholarship for Public Housing and Section 8 at UNCW

1373.                  The Windell Daniels Scholarship at CFCC

1374.                  The John Myers Art Scholarship at UNCW

1375.                  Getting the endowment report at the holidays

1376.                  The amazing growth of the endowed scholarships

1377.                  Seeing the expenditures and the impact around those

1378.                  The life of John Myers

1379.                  The funds for county employees to attend school at uncw

1380.                  The funds for county employees to attend school at cfcc

1381.                  The letters from students

1382.                  The reports of funds used

1383.                  The hope for more to be able to access school without the burden

1384.                  To have my own loans paid off

1385.                  To have reached that penultimate place of not having student debt

1386.                  The love and support that went into helping me get those loans

1387.                  All the ways that I did not have to borrow as much money because of work, scholarships and grants

1388.                  So much love that created the opportunities I have now

1389.                  To have the opportunity to give back now what I was afforded in so many ways

1390.                  To have a few development folks who are so very kind and truly helpful

1391.                  the foundation at CFCC

1392.                  the Watson college of education

1393.                  almost a decade of being on the advisory board at Watson

1394.                  having an educator as a leader at uncw

1395.                  the leadership of the dean of the education

1396.                  the legacy and leadership of the dean of HHS outgoing

1397.                  the fierce work of the dean of Cameron school of business

1398.                  serving on the MPA advisory

1399.                  being able to speak to the MPA students

1400.                  the mastery of service to the community at DREAMS of Wilmington

1401.                  watching an amazing soul assume leadership of DREAMS

1402.                  watching the outgoing leader of DREAMS move through and assume leadership in Kids Making it

1403.                  watching Kevin grow from student to powerful non profit change agent, father, husband and leader!

1404.                  Seeing so many former honors students flourishing and growing and serving

1405.                  Kids making it creating such amazing skills for youth

1406.                  Kids making it creating our own awards our employees love and treasure

1407.                  Kids making it having such a wonderful facility on castle street now

1408.                  The legacy of Jimmy pierce

1409.                  The pens

1410.                  The clocks

1411.                  The cape fear river wood

1412.                  The food bank of eastern north Carolina

1413.                  Nourish NC

1414.                  Having the new facility on Market for Nourish

1415.                  Having places to shop for food that is affordable and accessible

1416.                  Food as medicine

1417.                  The food pharmacy at NHRMC

1418.                  The foundation at NHRMC Novant

1419.                  Privilege of seeing the transition

1420.                  NHRMC novant leadership

1421.                  The amazing team at NHRM Novant foundation

1422.                  The men and women in service at NHRMC Novant

1423.                  The front line in the ED

1424.                  The nurses

1425.                  The CNA’s

1426.                  All those who labor for the health and wellness of others

1427.                  The investments in the community

1428.                  The ems workers

1429.                  Those who sit and wait to respond

1430.                  The new training facilities

1431.                  The training for CISM and hans leadership

1432.                  The peer support leadership of Chief Robinson

1433.                  The grants for support for the food bank

1434.                  The breaking ground for the MJ clinic

1435.                  The MJ clinic being right across from Houston Moore

1436.                  The possible for health equity and access in our community and beyond

1437.                  Having another clinic in the north side and free access to care on the regular

1438.                  The leadership of doc brown

1439.                  The gift of the MJ

1440.                  Having 200 beds coming for folks to have long term recovery in the county

1441.                  the healing place model

1442.                  the support of the county for the healing place

1443.                  moving on and upwards to see this through

1444.                  the hope for a clean recovery

1445.                  the ability to be involved

1446.                  the meetings

1447.                  the facility itself

1448.                  the model

1449.                  the leaders making it happen

1450.                  the privilege for doing mcing the heart ball

1451.                  the same for the heart walk

1452.                  bringing some joy with the heart association

1453.                  the leadership of the let

1454.                  being able to translate some good with heart to good

1455.                  the leadership of Ashley in all of this

1456.                  Shelbourne in all things heart

1457.                  The youth shelter at Coastal horizons

1458.                  The rape crisis center at coastal

1459.                  All the amazing programming and the programming staff at Coastal Horizons Inc

1460.                  So much good that happens with the school based mental health and coastal

1461.                  The youth mental health first aid

1462.                  The adult mental health first aid

1463.                  The spectacular trainers for the mental health first aid from coastal

1464.                  Savannah

1465.                  The impact to equip and prepare people to respond and take care in such escalated times

1466.                  Linc incorporated

1467.                  Seeing the job placements make such a significant difference in real lives

1468.                  The domestic violence center

1469.                  Domestic violence shelter

1470.                  The cape fear literacy council

1471.                  Step up Wilmington

1472.                  Having fulltime employment

1473.                  Having worked that has purpose

1474.                  Being engaged with people who make a difference

1475.                  Witnessing change and good in the people I work with

1476.                  Watching people grow in their work

1477.                  Seeing the possible in my work

1478.                  Being trusted

1479.                  Plantation village

1480.                  The giving of plantation village each year

1481.                  The outpouring of giving after crisis for the loss at 911

1482.                  The lives of all who have fallen in the lines of service

1483.                  Families of all who live after the fallen

1484.                  Those who care and show such care for the families

1485.                  Flags at half staff

1486.                  Gatherings for places to share care and sorrow

1487.                  CISM

1488.                  Those who see the need to care for loss

1489.                  Not giving up when there is loss

1490.                  Access to resources

1491.                  Seeing the totality of needs

1492.                  Being given the space to be

1493.                  Working with people who believe in the possible

1494.                  Learning more and growing in my work

1495.                  Having access to resources to prosper good work

1496.                  Being involved in public service

1497.                  Having alignment to a strategic plan that is about people

1498.                  Being involved in a group of people who give a damn

1499.                  Seeing resilience work in our organization

1500.                  Having biological resilience skills operate in our organization

1501.                  Being a part of response to emergencies for our community

1502.                  Our emergency response team

1503.                  NHC EOC
NHC 911

1504.                  The fierceness of commitment and response of the 911 team

1505.                  The response to the loss this year in the 911 family

1506.                  All the love and support that came from all sectors after the loss

1507.                  The cupcake warnings

1508.                  The lunch and learns for staff and the public to be aware for emergencies

1509.                  Ready NHC

1510.                  Regular trainings and response for all of us to be ready to be available

1511.                  The new response center coming

1512.                  The team for development services responding to all the development community

1513.                  All the inspectors out there keeping us safe and built well

1514.                  All the tax assessors doing right be everyone for the revenue

1515.                  All the folks in tax keeping people whole and fair

1516.                  All of our soil folks in engineering making it less likely to have flooding

1517.                  The extraordinary men and women of Fire Services

1518.                  MDA fill the boot

1519.                  Fire coming to Miracle League

1520.                  Members of the fire Service of NHC doing the 41 Mile run

1521.                  Witnessing the run and the dedication to raising money for the miracle league

1522.                  Witnessing the run and raising awareness about all 8 of the fire houses

1523.                  The honor, integrity and running these streets in the 41 mile run

1524.                  The 5k donated to the miracle league by this amazing run!

1525.                  The professional fire fighters association

1526.                  All the support offered to those in service and their families from the PFFA

1527.                  The day in Brooklyn at Edward Teach with the PFFA and all the vendors for Michael Stanley

1528.                  The life of Michael Stanley

1529.                  The family of Michael Stanley

1530.                  The continued support of the family of Michael Stanley

1531.                  The awareness of PFAS and other carcinogens in the turn out gear and legislation to come

1532.                  The live burn exercise and witness

1533.                  The national accreditation for the fire service

1534.                  Opening the new 421

1535.                  Seeing the new government center coming out the ground

1536.                  Getting my first tour of the building

1537.                  Getting to sit in my new office for the first time

1538.                  Getting a window!

1539.                  Working with a leader who is so humble who leads so many projects

1540.                  Seeing the process of a new way to build unfold

1541.                  Being able to say thank you to the workers

1542.                  Seeing how safe the site is and being managed

1543.                  Be part of something that will serve moving forward

1544.                  Being able to sign the beam that was raised and placed

1545.                  Being witness to something that is part of a history that will soon be 300 years in the making

1546.                  Standing with others in that moment

1547.                  Looking to see a pace that everyone can get into without obstacles or obstructions

1548.                  Being so close to work

1549.                  Not having to commute

1550.                  Being able to go home at lunch

1551.                  Being able to take care of jax at lunch

1552.                  Having places to walk to each at lunch

1553.                  Having the ability to take lunch most days

1554.                  Not having to clock in and out

1555.                  Working in a place where I am treated as an adult

1556.                  Working where I can grow and learn and be of use

1557.                  Being of use

1558.                  Being of service to others

1559.                  Being in a place that is about the service to others

1560.                  Being in a place that is cares for others

1561.                  having a space to grow and learn and collaborate with the team

1562.                  having exchanges daily of ideas to create for the betterment of those around us

1563.                  having the masters of public administration Fellowship from UNCW

1564.                  having an MPA student in my office

1565.                  learning form the MPA student and continuing to grow

1566.                  having work study with UNCW
having a work study student in our office

1567.                  my giant white board

1568.                  my library of resources that has take 9 years to create

1569.                  sharing these books and resources

1570.                  having people want these books and resources

1571.                  our amazing and wonderful library

1572.                  all the library staff

1573.                  the resolve to care for ALL of our library

1574.                  being invited to do seminars at library staff day

1575.                  the library facilities in NHC

1576.                  holding classes in Pine Valley Library

1577.                  the wonderful and gracious staff at Pine Valley

1578.                  the recovery of Pine Valley and resolve to keep moving through

1579.                  the care and deep love of all for children in our libraries

1580.                  the library book sale

1581.                  the look on Michael’s face when there is a library sale

1582.                  being able to preview the sale for the staff

1583.                  being able to find professional development books at the sale every time

1584.                  saving huge amounts of money on those books at the library sale that can be used and are used

1585.                  having a new person in our wellness office

1586.                  being inspired to collaborate on wellness

1587.                  having a team of folks who are in NHC that are CRM teachers

1588.                  having community resilience model given to all our new hires

1589.                  having community resilience model offered every month

1590.                  having resets and reminders for resilience in all our bathrooms and all around the facilities

1591.                  a culture of resilience

1592.                  peer support

1593.                  trauma informed leadership team

1594.                  crisis incident stress management team

1595.                  the Resilience working group

1596.                  the training collaborative

1597.                  the recognition committee

1598.                  the recognition committee’s dedication to truly recognizing folks at the county

1599.                  catching up for our Five Star Awards

1600.                  the gift of the amazing breakfast for the Five Star recipients

1601.                  the phenomenal five star awards created by Dumay Gorham

1602.                  Seeing so many people post their award on social media and see how it resonated

1603.                  the regular meeting to lift and praise and make recognition happen for folks

1604.                  the naco awards this year

1605.                  being able to recognize those NACO awards

1606.                  NACO as a whole

1607.                  Having a platform like precipio to use

1608.                  To see my team member thrive in training

1609.                  To see the success of those around me

1610.                  To receive copies of high fives of those on my team

1611.                  To feel good about team teaching

1612.                  To have Forte assessments as a tool for communication

1613.                  our amazing register of deeds

1614.                  our amazing sheriff and his successful re-election

1615.                  the leadership in the sheriff’s department

1616.                  triple crown of accreditation for our sheriff’s department

1617.                  being able to offer training for our county wide training with the sheriff’s office

1618.                  the witness of the areas of service for our sheriff’s office

1619.                  the sro’s

1620.                  the sro’s and doing resilience

1621.                  the amazing work of the DO’s and navigating all they do

1622.                  the criminal just advisory group

1623.                  the witness of facilitation for that group

1624.                  the collaborative work of those using that they have to increases safety and build better

1625.                  the leaders who truly work to make a better community

1626.                  the landfill

1627.                  the ballet on top of the hill of the machines grinding to keep it under control

1628.                  all for the work to keep the leche form harming us all

1629.                  all the work of each of the persons everyday to manage all that waste

1630.                  the heroic efforts to take care of the world around us

1631.                  the ingenuity of the landfill team and all that they do each day

1632.                  the huckleberry and organics going back into the soil

1633.                  working with LINC to bring folks into the workforce successfully

1634.                  the best in the weigh house moving them in and out all day

1635.                  being able to recognize and praise those who work there

1636.                  being in a org that supports and see senior services as critical

1637.                  our senior resource center

1638.                  the lang the senior center sits on

1639.                  the long walk around the senior cetner

1640.                  the upgrade and upfit of the center

1641.                  seeing the men in the day room playing cards and having time together

1642.                  all those coming for yoga on the regular

1643.                  seeing so much more interaction from seniors of every demographic

1644.                  Having mental health practitioners at the senior center

1645.                  Having access to tax help at the center

1646.                  All the programming at the center

1647.                  All the congregant meals

1648.                  Seeing the cars line up of volunteers delivering meals to homes

1649.                  All those who gather and cook and prepare the meals that are delivered on the regular

1650.                  The welcome on arrival at the center

1651.                  The amazing care of the facilities staff at the center

1652.                  Just having a county that values this service like it does

1653.                  Having access to what I need to do my work and lift those around me.

1654.                  Having colleagues that I can be open with and go to

1655.                  Having new experiences that continue to teach me

1656.                  Having feedback from those I serve that can help improve

1657.                  A plant on a special day

1658.                  A post it note of thanks

1659.                  A challenge coin

1660.                  Challenge coins form people in front line service (those blow me away)

1661.                  Our Social workers who literally make the lives of children whole
Our Social workers who are the guardians for our seniors

1662.                  Our health workers who educated and make things safer

1663.                  Have a health equity officer as a full time, full realized position!

1664.                  Having a stratic plan for HHS

1665.                  Seeing and having a plan for mental health through our HHS that we can align work

1666.                  The leadership at HHS in our county

1667.                  The panops team and mitigation through all circumstances.

1668.                  Getting my flu shot in the parking lot

1669.                  Getting my flu shot from some of the best nurses ever in public health

1670.                  The training rooms in the HHS building

1671.                  The HHS building being so central to so much and accessible

1672.                  The historic County courthouse

1673.                  Doing recognition of Service awards at the Commissioners meetings

1674.                  Being able to see retirees get some praise on camera and in front of the community for their work

1675.                  Being able to introduce new employees to their commissioners

1676.                  Being able to go up in the bell tower

1677.                  The view from the bell tower

1678.                  Our amazing clerk and attorney

1679.                  The new port city united

1680.                  Having on the ground work to work through issues in the community

1681.                  Having on the ground opportunities to lift and create pathways forward

1682.                  The connect team and answering the call for help or for ways forward

1683.                  The leaders

1684.                  Doing the tours of the county and listening to the conversations.

1685.                  Creating connection and seeing the possible.

1686.                  The hope

1687.                  The good.

1688.                  Addressing specifically that which had been ignored.

1689.                  The technology needed to reach folks

1690.                  Having the support in IT to get the job done

1691.                  Having such a collaborative spirit in educating others

1692.                  Having UNCW and CFCC as such great partners

1693.                  The wonderful instructors for creating better fire folks

1694.                  SWAIN center for professional development

1695.                  Being on the hiring committee and seeing a successful resolve

1696.                  Such a amazing service from Swain

1697.                  Seeing continued success with professional development at Swain

1698.                  Being able to rely on swain to show up and be a good partner with the way they do things

1699.                  Seeing the feedback from those attending in such positive ways

1700.                  The integration of Forte into the cohorts and how that shows up and being effective

1701.                  The support and coaching from the leaders at forte

1702.                  Integrating the team work from forte into my work our work

1703.                  The great work that is in pre-order on amazon from Hoop

1704.                  the facilities management team work this year

1705.                  the dsc team work this year

1706.                  our respectful workplace policy

1707.                  seeing the connections between people

1708.                  the bonus that we were given

1709.                  the recognition of our needs for resources in our pay and recognition of those needs

1710.                  the support that we get as workers in the work that we do

1711.                  the leadership from the elected leaders and the intentionality for what is needed

1712.                  the amazing process improvements from strategy

1713.                  the employee survey going out

1714.                  the dei conference

1715.                  the spirit and feel of the dei conference

1716.                  making so many connections with a lift in that dei office.

1717.                  The love and support

1718.                  The new friends and reconnections

1719.                  New awareness and understandings in the dei work

1720.                  The art of virginia wright Frierson

1721.                  The bottle house

1722.                  The bottle house in the back yard of their home

1723.                  The columbine “cathedral”

1724.                  The new works with such vibrant colors from virginia

1725.                  The art of ned Irvine

1726.                  The memory of making the bridge for the AIDS memorial quilt

1727.                  The art of Dumay Gorham

1728.                  The amazing starfish for our county awards

1729.                  The care and dedication to the craft of metal work of Dumay

1730.                  The giant seahawk at UNCW

1731.                  The dram tree

1732.                  The dragon at the arboretum

1733.                  Our precious sand dollar

1734.                  The art of Elizabeth Singletary

1735.                  The art of Harold Hodges

1736.                  The posts of all of the images from the coast over this past year

1737.                  The perspectives with words of life and care

1738.                  The works of such passion and love

1739.                  The deep understanding of the world through the lens

1740.                  The art of todd carnigan

1741.                  Our encounter in wrightville beach this year

1742.                  Our sunset work

1743.                  The art of elin o’hara slavick

1744.                  The gift of art from Allie Nardella

1745.                  The work from material from allie from Mother’s quilting

1746.                  My heart in so many ways

1747.                  The gift of articulating the world and lifting others in art

1748.                  The art of Karl Saliter

1749.                  The art of Judson Crowe

1750.                  The art of marie walker

1751.                  Designs by marie

1752.                  Everytime marie says or spells CUUUUUTE!

1753.                  My little Christmas tree from Marie this year

1754.                  The art and vintage space on Oleander!

1755.                  The art of Janna Siegel

1756.                  The Art of Karen Crouch

1757.                  The art of Sully Analyn Dunn

1758.                  The art of Liz Hosier

1759.                  The art of David Norris

1760.                  The photography of David Norris

1761.                  The art of cunningham

1762.                  The art of Michael Van Hout

1763.                  The art of Justine Ferriri!

1764.                  The art if Bradley Carter

1765.                  The art if donna moore

1766.                  The art of Kirah Van sickle

1767.                  The art of owen Wexler

1768.                  The art of fritzi huber

1769.                  The art of Regular greyson

1770.                  The art of September Krueger

1771.                  The art of brian evans

1772.                  The art of brian Guthrie (and leadership)

1773.                  The better health and wellness for owen!

1774.                  The wonder of art and good of Sarah westermark!

1775.                  The amazing work for Marty Allran

1776.                  The art of heather mclleland

1777.                  The art of Elizabeth darrow

1778.                  The find of the century getting one of the mandala’s of Elizabeth’s!

1779.                  So many artists in the cape fear region

1780.                  A culture of art in this area

1781.                  The work of the Cape Fear Arts Council

1782.                  The artistry at kids making it

1783.                  The hand turned pens at kids making it

1784.                  The Christmas ornaments at kids making it

1785.                  The work of rhonda Bellamy to share the arts in our region

1786.                  The phenomenal space that is DREAMS of Wilmington
the amazing portrait Justine made for us!

1787.                  All the joy in Justine’s creations

1788.                  The amazing mural at Dreams this year

1789.                  The Black Lives Do Matter installations being in

1790.                  The vision of world issue and capturing what is needed to be illustrated and shared

1791.                  The art of and legacy of Claude Howell

1792.                  The art space of the Claude Howell Gallery

1793.                  The art space of bottega art and wine

1794.                  The art space of Ellipse Gallery

1795.                  The art space of Art in Bloom

1796.                  The art space of Acme Art

1797.                  The art space of the Wilma Daniels Gallery

1798.                  The art space of the Ann Flack Boseman Gallery

1799.                  The art space of the Cameron Art Museum

1800.                  The tile mural by Clause Howell in the ports office

1801.                  The  art of Mitzy Jonkheer

1802.                  The frogs of andy cobb

1803.                  The angels of andy cobb

1804.                  The nativity andy cobb made

1805.                  The cross andy cobb made

1806.                  the cartoon at Church of the servant by le Compte

1807.                  the rowan le compte window at the Cameron

1808.                  all the stained glass in the city all around

1809.                  the sale of art at landfall each year

1810.                  the artists that support so many charities with their art

1811.                  the beauty of the area inspiring so much art

1812.                  the works of Mary Ellen Golden

1813.                  The life of Tony Rivenbark

1814.                  The celebration of Tony’s life in grand style

1815.                  Thalian Hall

1816.                  Truly remarkable footprint of tony and all he created

1817.                  Harold’s large pieces being in the building downtown

1818.                  The large pics of hurricanes in DSC

1819.                  The display in the gov center of old area photos

1820.                  The steeples downtown

1821.                  The domes on the synagogue

1822.                  The pavers on the streets downtowns

1823.                  The connection we have the reel café that was the hospital in the civil war

1824.                  The sculpture at the base of market

1825.                  All the fret work on buildings downtown

1826.                  Having an active acting scene in the area

1827.                  Having shows available to attend

1828.                  Having spaces to have shows that are accessible

1829.                  The art in Randall library

1830.                  The collection at UNCW of art

1831.                  The collection of coastal art at Cameron

1832.                  The collection of art at the Cape Fear Museum

1833.                  The availability of the art and accessibility of much of the art to the public on the regular

1834.                  The pedestrian art downtown

1835.                  The art of Bruce Bowman

1836.                  Seeing bruce’s work in my work area everyday

1837.                  The artistry that is built in to some of the buildings in our region

1838.                  The landfall art sale each year to support artists

1839.                  The sale of art at Wrightsville beach in the Harbor Island Park

1840.                  The orange street festival

1841.                  The clay guild of the cape fear

1842.                  The legacy of the Hiroshi

1843.                  The support for Hiroshi this year

1844.                  The work and art of Hiroshi

1845.                  Cam café and the legacy of pine valley reinventing that space

1846.                  The cam museum shop

1847.                  The whirly gig on the grounds at Cameron

1848.                  Having Hiroshi’s big piece moved to Cameron and saved for all to see

1849.                  The legacy of paul in the orchards at Cameron

1850.                  The legacy of johnnie on the grounds now a park at Cameron

1851.                  Claude and Wrenn at Cam eternally

1852.                  The art of Fritz Kaprun

1853.                  “Claude’s View”

1854.                  The art and music of Perry Smith

1855.                  Having alana shaw in Wilmington

1856.                  The beauty of turning the wheel

1857.                  The music of benny hill

1858.                  The Wilmington symphony

1859.                  The amazing opera at uncw

1860.                  The voice of brian Putnam

1861.                  The photography of brian Putnam

1862.                  All the amazing wildlife captured by brian

1863.                  The vision and dedication to coastal wildlife by brian

1864.                  The joy of the schoolboys bad

1865.                  Seeing the school boys at Panacea

1866.                  The voice and talent of eric miller

1867.                  Having eric in my list of favorites on my phone to play when I need

1868.                  In to the garden by eric

1869.                  The music of randy McQuay

1870.                  The smell of the salt air at Wrightsville Beach,

1871.                  the ability to drive to the beach,

1872.                  the ability to bike to the beach,

1873.                  the Indian blanket flowers in the spring time,

1874.                  the public access walkways,

1875.                  the first view of the surf from the walkways,

1876.                  the feel of the sun on my face,

1877.                  the winds,

1878.                  the different shades of green and blue,

1879.                  remembering the story Hilda  talking about all the different shades of green with Claude

1880.                  being able to sit at the oceanic on Friday

1881.                  walking out onto the crystal pier together

1882.                  looking out on the surf,

1883.                  Dinners out together and being together

1884.                  Our little trips up and down the island just to reset,

1885.                  being able to enjoy just feeling the wind and the air together,

1886.                  grabbing an Acai bowl every once in awhile,

1887.                  sitting outside zekes on the picnic tables and watching folks go by,

1888.                  the outdoor gym area at Wrightsville park,

1889.                  listening to the music from the outdoor concerts

1890.                  running the loop again and feeling comfortable doing it,

1891.                  that feeling coming around the loop of absolute freedom,

1892.                  getting away from the smell of the bars,

1893.                  walking out on the Johnny mercers,

1894.                  the little gardens in the neighborhoods on harbor island,

1895.                  the little park on harbor island,

1896.                  little different places to launch the kayak,

1897.                  the smell of the mold coming out of the old cottages,

1898.                  being offered a place to stay on the beach from a friend,

1899.                  Seeing all the dogs walking around,

1900.                  Finding parking on a busy summer day

1901.                  Not worrying about the traffic

1902.                  The new speed limit on waynick

1903.                  the amazing owner at the blockade runner,

1904.                  having our Christmas party last year at the blockade runner,

1905.                  the gardens at the blockade runner,

1906.                  the grounds all around the blockade runner,

1907.                  the lobby and all the arts at the blockade runner,

1908.                  people who still care about the islands,

1909.                  getting stuck in traffic when the drawbridge goes up and having to stop for a minute,

1910.                  the little views over the marshland through the trees and shrubs,

1911.                  the speed of my bicycle when I come off of the drawbridge going down the little hill,

1912.                  having access to shopping so nearby with Mayfair,

1913.                  having all the new amenities so close by in the neighborhood at autumn hall,

1914.                  the back way to the beach on Wrightsville Ave,

1915.                  now knowing so many ways to get around we’re not getting on the main road,

1916.                  the heart at summers rest,

1917.                  the gentleman’s corner taking such good care of me,

1918.                  the good memories of Ashworth when I was growing up,

1919.                  having clothes to wear,

1920.                  having hope,

1921.                  having outfits that I feel good in,

1922.                  having athletic leader,

1923.                  never forgetting how fortunate it is to have clothing and outfits for the different types of weather

1924.                  really enjoying clothing just like daddy,

1925.                  being a little more expressive with myself,

1926.                  having access to a place like the Board of Elections so close by the house,

1927.                  to be able to vote,

1928.                  to vote without any kind of intimidation,

1929.                  to know that my voted counts

1930.                  how much to know that I vote was counted,

1931.                  to know that the people that work in elections in New Hanover County have integrity,

1932.                  to know that I live in the county where we are allowed to vote without obstructions anymore,

1933.                  to feel free to walk in without having to show ID to vote as a citizen of this country,

1934.                  to see how my vote made a difference in this last election,

1935.                  to not feel forced to be in any kind of political party,

1936.                  see how quickly we were able to get in and out of voting,

1937.                  to be able to vote together, 

1938.                  the willingness of some to run for office for the right reasons, 

1939.                  learning more about our elected officials

1940.                  learning the truth about some who do run 

1941.                  how they govern and seeing them govern.

1942.                  our process of governance and how it really can make a difference and does,

1943.                  the hope for our democracy,

1944.                  those who work in all forms of public life,

1945.                  those who see the common good,

1946.                  those who plant trees,

1947.                  those who build and plant trees in equal fashion

1948.                  lloyd’s diversity and inclusion award at the arboretum

1949.                  the fashion show at the arboretum

1950.                  the ability garden

1951.                  the access to learning more about how to care for the world through the arboretum

1952.                  the cape fear river watch

1953.                  the fierce advocacy of the cape fear river watch

1954.                  having clean water for the first time in years

1955.                  the cape fear public utility authority investment in the water

1956.                  the filtration system for our water

1957.                  holding Chemours to account

1958.                  soil and water electeds in NHC

1959.                  the rain barrel sales each month

1960.                  for those who build and still see the environment as needed and as a part of the build,

1961.                  for the communities that wants to have a good life,

1962.                  of the neighborhoods that are finally getting sidewalks,

1963.                  for being able to walk in neighborhoods finally in some places in the city,

1964.                  feeling a sense of connection to one another in our neighborhoods not just with cameras,

1965.                  for our law enforcement officers,

1966.                  our city and county firefighters,

1967.                  for all who see service and not just enforcement,

1968.                  those who lived up in any form box and prayers after shootings,

1969.                  those who know that prayer and love in any form is good energy into the world,

1970.                  those who stop and take a moment to be at vigils after mass shootings to be present for brief,

1971.                  those who are present for action after moving through grief with change and care,

1972.                  those that are present with action in resilience in helping people be in their cognitive spaces

1973.                  to help with change and moving forward,

1974.                  the winds before a storm,

1975.                  seeing Kitty get her award this year,

1976.                  Logan get her award this year,

1977.                  The legacy of betsy leonard and the holiday helpers

1978.                  The award for the voracious actions of Louise McColl for volunteerism

1979.                  Watching Dana  get promoted,

1980.                  watching Lucy get promoted,

1981.                  watching friends get promoted around me,

1982.                  being able to be on interview panels

1983.                  seeing the success of others,

1984.                  seeing Nate gets his new position,

1985.                  seeing all the good that goes on in the lives of people around me,

1986.                  the connection of phone calls with friends for over 30 years,

1987.                  being able to pick up the phone call when needed,

1988.                  staying connected to all the marriages and seeing them prosper and grow

1989.                  the honors youngins and seeing them prosper

1990.                  the continued health for those living cancer free

1991.                  the calls for sitting now with those walking that journey

1992.                  the life of Tony Rivenbark

1993.                  having people who know me,

1994.                  having people who truly love me for me,

1995.                  being able love back,

1996.                  able to say I am sorry

1997.                  able to say no

1998.                  able to be better with yes

1999.                  able to say not now

2000.                  able to make space

2001.                  seeing trees that are flourishing,

2002.                  our hurricane tree that continues to bounce back,

2003.                  migrating tree across from the parking lot that continues to wave back-and-forth,

2004.                  not having to be on duty this year for an extended period of time,

2005.                  for being ready to be on duty, if need be,

2006.                  the ability to deeply believe after all of this health stuff,

2007.                  to have my boosters,

2008.                  for those that take these issues seriously,

2009.                  the awareness of people who don’t take the issue seriously,

2010.                  compassion, but not acceptance of those who don’t take this issues seriously,

2011.                  all of the medical providers,

2012.                  the service to Dr. Fauci,

2013.                  the CDC,

2014.                  the North Carolina Department of health and human services,

2015.                  the leader ship in all of these crises across the state,

2016.                  those that put their political and professional lives on the line in the service of others,

2017.                  those who rejected false narratives

2018.                  those who did not invite false narratives

2019.                  those who did not mask false narratives as “open discussions”

2020.                  those who connect in love not mask in religion

2021.                  those who believe in science,

2022.                  compassion for those who live in fear, and understanding,

2023.                  deeper and deeper about compassion, understanding,

2024.                  more about empathy, understanding more about my own humility,

2025.                  deepening that understanding of my own excellence,

2026.                  the ability to give to things that matter to me, and for us,

2027.                  the ability to stay connected,

2028.                  the drive to the neighborhood,

2029.                  feeling deeply at home,

2030.                  all of the trees that remain,

2031.                  all of the changes in the colors,

2032.                  every season,

2033.                  having abundance,

2034.                  every season,

2035.                  revealing something new,

2036.                  every season, bringing back some thing that brings a smile,

2037.                  azaleas at full bloom

2038.                  The trees over college acres drive

2039.                  The corner bush of azaleas

2040.                  The posts of flowers from Kelly R.

2041.                  The posts of flowers from Lora T

2042.                  The posts of flowers from Jan D.

2043.                  All who share what they see in nature

2044.                  All the sharing of things they see in the present

2045.                  The connection to good that make me want to connect to others

2046.                  All the love of good from Mike rhyne

2047.                  Having so many connections still from college

2048.                  The love and care from nigel to his mother

2049.                  the love and care of tally for the who broadway community

2050.                  the love and care of Tally for his mother

2051.                  the love and care of the community for tally and his family

2052.                  the love and care for kurt and his mother

2053.                  the love and care for kurt always

2054.                  for the posts and leadership from Addison

2055.                  the amazing life of Josh stein

2056.                  from childhood friends prospering and living best lives

2057.                  joel

2058.                  josh

2059.                  Julie

2060.                  Connecting with Julie over facebook while they were down for Dr. Ellis’s birthday

2061.                  Ann

2062.                  Katherine

2063.                  The mobile connections

2064.                  Seeing the love from mobile

2065.                  Healing from the time in mobile

2066.                  The love of Dahn and her dear departed husband

2067.                  The ministry of Dahn

2068.                  The smile and life and love of Dahn

2069.                  The ever present and wonderful tonya

2070.                  the life of beth

2071.                  the life of our departed Beth Bond

2072.                  watching my cousin get married and have the best life Brooke

2073.                  the life and love of uncle Al

2074.                  the love of susan and al always

2075.                  cousin susan and her constant love

2076.                  the life, sacrifices and care of aunt Peggy

2077.                  brooke’s pottery

2078.                  the new life of my great nephew brooks

2079.                  the joy of sharing in pictures as the youngin’s grow and prosper

2080.                  Lauren’s blog and the seat of the tractor

2081.                  The writing and witness of Lauren

2082.                  The service and life of Buddy and Stephen in the fire service

2083.                  The health and wellness for Trish

2084.                  The care of trish

2085.                  Harold’s Sister coming to visit

2086.                  Meeting harold’s niece and the connection

2087.                  Family Promise

2088.                  Ann’s continued work with Family Promise for the families in need

2089.                  Wrightsville family practice

2090.                  Dr. jones

2091.                  Dr. williams

2092.                  Turning 56 this year

2093.                  Feeling ok in my own skin at this age

2094.                  Still craving to learn and grown

2095.                  Feeling more able than I ever have in my life

2096.                  Being able to contribute 

2097.                  PACES

2098.                  Cape Fear health net

2099.                  Seeds of Healing Inc.

2100.                  World aids days events from Seeds

2101.                  The aids quilt being on display here in the region

2102.                  The work of SAGE in the region

2103.                  The quilt panel on permanent display in the student union at UNCW

2104.                  The AIDS and HIV outreach at SEES

2105.                  Coastal Horizons providers and staff

2106.                  Domestic Violence Shelter

2107.                  Disability Resource Center

2108.                  DRC monthly meetings

2109.                  DRC Awareness and access advocacy

2110.                  The Ocean Cure work

2111.                  The pads on the beach for all persons to access the ocean

2112.                  The terrain hoppers for beach access

2113.                  The remarkable witness of persons with disabilities having first access to the beach

2114.                  Accessible tennis

2115.                  Lennie Simpson

2116.                  One love tennis

2117.                  Carolina Complete Health Network

2118.                  Guardian Ad Litem

2119.                  NHDC

2120.                  Vantage Pointe

2121.                  Injury Free North Carolina

2122.                  Tri Count Collaborative

2123.                  My little lizard friends in the garden

2124.                  The little lizards in the mums

2125.                  The visits from the squirrels

2126.                  The crystals in the house

2127.                  Finding a new “cathedral” crystal this year

2128.                  Our forever crystals from our wedding

2129.                  The crystals from mother on my first year

2130.                  The medallions from over the year

2131.                  The medallion for my 33rd from Judd

2132.                  The list form my first youth group framed and in the house

2133.                  The angel that I made and had over our door of our first apartment

2134.                  our first rings in their little casket

2135.                  the his and his on the cake ms. Hearne made for us wrapped in our matching ties

2136.                  the card holder mother made in her first home

2137.                  the angel on my lamp that watches over me from my best

2138.                  the star with a crystal that is a constant there to from Jennifer R.

2139.                  the beads that I wear that help me reset

2140.                  the beads Michael gave me that helped me learn that practice

2141.                  knowing how to make and share those beads with other

2142.                  creating little things to give with shells I have collected

2143.                  having the shells in the car to look

2144.                  the shell in my office from the night before Florence

2145.                  the rain chime from Michael in my office

2146.                  the shelf of gifts in my office

2147.                  the new coins I got recently from fire that means so much

2148.                  the PFFA coin (and stophel’s design that is a bottle opener!)

2149.                  accreditation coin and 25 year anniversary!

2150.                  The pics of my youngin’ who loved to get on that microphone

2151.                  The little pigs that fly

2152.                  Our little tree in the office

2153.                  Our gift exchange in the office

2154.                  Mark’s gift to us all of lunch and care

2155.                  Sharing out likes and dislikes for the gift exchange and learning from one another

2156.                  Someone else making coffee in the morning in the office now

2157.                  Others bringing in coffee to the office now

2158.                  The medicine ball to get out negative energy!

2159.                  Reminders of thanks

2160.                  Reminders of bring thought of

2161.                  Reminders of my own spiritual connection

2162.                  Grounding items

2163.                  The fan in front of me at my desk

2164.                  The sound of the fan

2165.                  Being able to type

2166.                  Being able to use voice to text

2167.                  Having access to cameras to “meet” wth people

2168.                  Having access to an amazing team of folks to make video better

2169.                  Being able to share education with those who are deployed in so many places

2170.                  Having access to data to see efficacy in this work

2171.                  Seeing responses almost immediately

2172.                  Being able to see feedback that is majority positive

2173.                  being able to be responsive when there are concerns

2174.                  not losing what I know is right to be like or accepted

2175.                  not losing self to be ok with others

2176.                  to go to sleep at night with sense of being ok

2177.                  to be able to resolve conflicts I see and experience for the most part internally

2178.                  not to harm or stuff conflicts that are out of my control

2179.                  to look for what I can do.

2180.                  To look for what influence I should have and od have

2181.                  to have some influence

2182.                  to live out Fr. Bob’s definition and define my excellence

2183.                  to understand more of that true humility

2184.                  to understand more of what my true excellence is not

2185.                  all those things folks shared and facilited with me that still live me

2186.                  to pass on those ideas and learnings

2187.                  to pass on things when asked and not just random

2188.                  being more discerning

2189.                  being more aware that not everyone is gentle with truth and openness

2190.                  being more aware of other’s hurts

2191.                  more aware of my own energy

2192.                  my own since of presence

2193.                  how to present that sense of self

2194.                  people who believe in santa

2195.                  people who allow others to believe in Santa

2196.                  the joy of magic and wonder

2197.                  the love of anticipation of a gift

2198.                  the sweet feeling of being given something not expected

2199.                  the joy of truly not wanting things

2200.                  my bosses day gift

2201.                  seeing it over my computer

2202.                  having dual screens to work with at work

2203.                  having duals screens to work with at home

2204.                  having a docking port to be able to travel with my work

2205.                  for having my office door open to colleagues to call out to one another and connect

2206.                  the hallway conversations

2207.                  the hallways laughter

2208.                  folks coming to my office to reset and vent

2209.                  folks coming to this office to share the care they give and let go

2210.                  the stories of trying to keep people whole in a trauma informed world

2211.                  the stories of helping people get through as they do good for others

2212.                  the stories of working harder to help with the health of those doing the work

2213.                  the hard stories of what cannot be done and acceptance of limits

2214.                  learning to stay on mission and focus on what I can do

2215.                  the smell of coffee first thing in the office

2216.                  the email that comes with a high five out of no where unexpectedly

2217.                  being able to send high fives

2218.                  being able to work with a group that shares praise

2219.                  being able to be with people who want better for others

2220.                  the grant from R4R with he wellness packs

2221.                  the wellness calendars for others

2222.                  the basic three in the packs for home delivered meals

2223.                  the basic three all over the county

2224.                  the new data from the employee survey with resilience showing strong

2225.                  the amazing group of people who are resilient

2226.                  resilience being about wellness and not just getting through

2227.                  having project management work so well each year

2228.                  seeing how much project management makes change in this organization

2229.                  the dedication of the new building

2230.                  the wonderful workers with thomas construction

2231.                  the amazing safety they took during construction

2232.                  Monteith construction

2233.                  wisteria

2234.                  magnolia

2235.                  crepe myrtle

2236.                  being able to see the seasons,

2237.                  being present in the seasons,

2238.                  My favorite Maple in the neighborhood,

2239.                  the sound of my Cardinals,

2240.                  our street being protected,

2241.                  our street being controlled by the neighborhood,

2242.                  our neighborhood having some cohesion,

2243.                  people putting Christmas lights out in the holidays,

2244.                  driving around the neighborhoods to look at the Christmas lights,

2245.                  going shelling, slowing down and finding shells that appear,

2246.                  finding wild mushrooms,

2247.                  getting the gift of growing mushrooms this year,

2248.                  the gift of a friend who cares enough to give me honest feedback,

2249.                  the work and legacy of Jan Davidson historian and change-maker,

2250.                  the phenomenal truth telling at the Cape Fear museum,

2251.                  the amazing display for diversity equity and inclusion from the Smithsonian at the Cape Fear museum,

2252.                  all of the science education and exploration at the museum,

2253.                  the beauty in the gardens around the museum,

2254.                  the opportunity of having a new museum and library downtown,

2255.                  the heroics of everyone involved in trying to satisfy everyone’s needs,

2256.                  knowing it’s a sloth and not a dinosaur,

2257.                  sharing wildflower pictures,

2258.                  watching Marissa soar,

2259.                  watching all the MPA students soar,

2260.                  Holding hands for no reason,

2261.                  jinx 12345678910,

2262.                  being silent and not feeling awkward about it,

2263.                  sharing fear and not feeling apart,

2264.                  being angry and that being OK,

2265.                  seeing anxiety and holding fast,

2266.                  holding joy and embracing it,

2267.                  being able to enjoy different things for each other,

2268.                  little spaces, little piles, cooking dinner for him,

2269.                  the surprise of dinner ordered for me,

2270.                  being welcomed at the door,

2271.                  always having our find a friend on and it not being creepy,

2272.                  the special texts every day,

2273.                  I love you being shared and it not being just words,

2274.                  the love of treats and yes they’re not just for dogs,

2275.                  monster spelled Munster,

2276.                  putting up with all the changes in the house,

2277.                  telling me it all looks wonderful when it’s over,

2278.                  enjoying the twinkling lights at Christmas,

2279.                  all the Christmas music,

2280.                  Being a host for the diversity equity inclusion awards,

2281.                  seeing people I haven’t seen in so long and being able to hug,

2282.                  being privileged to be a speaker at the diversity and equity conference this year,

2283.                  the raw and emotional connection with the audience while speaking,

2284.                  meeting new and wonderful friends at the conference,

2285.                  having a shared space of healing and renewal,

2286.                  the wonderful work of the staff that put it together from New Hanover County,

2287.                  Cape Fear Community College space where it happened,

2288.                  putting to words and feelings ideas and notions along with current learning,

2289.                  navigating space in difficult circumstances,

2290.                  seeing connection to the realities around me and be able to find that place of making change,

2291.                  Part of a group that trains all the way to California,

2292.                  making connections across the country with people and working through and teaching resilience,

2293.                  being able to feel and connect with compassion and empathy,

2294.                  being able to see someone be able to connect to those skills,

2295.                  to be able to tap into my own trauma history and emotions and behold,

2296.                  to start to hear some of my own stories has ways of lifting up success and integrating into good

2297.                  knowing that this list misses so many things

2298.                  knowing no matter how large this list gets, it will never capture all that I can be grateful for

2299.                  knowing that each day is a gift and that I made another year is even more one day at a time

2300.                  Knowing that if you read this, I am grateful that we are connected in being present with the possible. One day at time, I hope next year, I am writing 2400…as I know that it will be just a snippet of what actually happened and what I actually can be and should be grateful for!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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