A Year of Gratitude – September 20, 2024

I found my gratitude in keeping a promise to myself tonight. I often come up with plentiful reasons that I should do something for someone else before myself. I know that I’m not alone in that behavior. I have plenty of company.

I made myself a promise that I am going to be better about that. I will try to find pockets of time when I can take a deep breath and just do something for myself. Most of the time, it won’t be anything grand. I’ll take an extra walk with Penny Lane or stop off at the local park while out running errands just to give myself a few minutes to think.

Tonight, I gave myself an extra treat. I needed to be in downtown Portsmouth around dinner time. I didn’t really want to go out to eat a full meal, I just wanted a treat of some sort. I was walking around, watching the people hurrying to dinner reservations and settling in at tables on outdoor patios.

It was warm enough but pleasant, a good night for walking around. So, I walked on every brick and paved sidewalk this fine city had to offer. I walked down to the waterfront and watched the water lap up on the docks below. I watched cars travel over the bridge in the distance on their way to and from Maine. I walked down streets I have traveled before and met the memories of those visits as I walked.

Then I walked into a café and ordered myself a hot cup of tea and a chocolate almond croissant.  It was flaky and delicious, the perfect treat after an hour of walking and wandering. I sat at an outdoor table with a view of the church steeple and clock tower. It was quiet there, although I could hear the faint sounds of the city from my vantage point.

I sat in solitude. I sipped my tea, I ate the delicious, flaky pastry. Then the clock chimed the hour and I decided to get up and head back to my car. My feet knew the way. They’ve traveled this city’s streets many times. With this promise kept, it was time to renew it and promise myself to travel them again soon.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.