It’s Friday morning and time to write my blog.

Waking up thinking about the violence that seems to be cutting us daily.

Deaths in the news, more like Netflix than a window into our days and times.

The hate we’ve witnessed in this American election.

Even the subtle embarrassment that we only seem to see American athletes in the olympics on tv.

Snippets of life from the media cutting away at us.

So here, today, I want to think about what I’m grateful for, the love that’s a balm to sooth this violence in the world.

I’m grateful for friends. To have reached a point in my life where I’m surrounded by people who just take me as I am, who are there to lend a hand and an ear in the silliest and most devastating crises.

I’m grateful for the weather, sudden thunderstorms, the cool breeze, the lovely sun that turns my skin a golden brown in the summer.

I’m grateful for the support of strangers, busy people who have looked down from the sky like angels and helped me build CottageClass towards their light, just because they were inspired to shine on new sprouts from the ground below.

I’m grateful to be a teacher and especially for the openness, sensitivity and vulnerability of the teen years, when just listening, caring about a young person can snap me out of the self-absorption of my first world woes.

For the family that has been through it all and just ain’t leaving no matter what.

For hard lessons that make me stronger and softer, like the ones you love that don’t call back.

For the rain.

For my 16 year old intern bringing me a paper towel and looking away awkwardly when I lost it this week.

For the dozen that leapt to volunteer to tutor some low-income students the moment they asked for help with the SAT.

For you, dear reader, for being curious, wanting to grow, taking a moment to step outside the boundaries of self, work, family to wonder, what does this stranger, friend or my beloved have to say today?