Throwback Thankful Things Thursday!

Do you remember Thankful Things Thursday?!

I swear I’m still a good, honest, grateful person (well, most days). I just don’t do such a good, honest, grateful job of writing about my thankfulness.

Today that. all. changes.

Today is the triumphant return of my beloved Thankful Things Thursday. Without further blah blah, here we go!

I wish my wedding dress were from Lululemon.
I wish my wedding dress were from Lululemon.

I’m thankful for clean laundry. I’m not thankful for having to put it away.

I’m thankful for when the mail comes. Now that we’re getting RSVP cards back for the wedding, I am obsessed with checking the mail every day.

The mail comes at 3 PM. I am usually waiting downstairs at 2:59.
The mail comes at 3 PM. I am usually waiting downstairs at 2:59.

I’m thankful for my wonderful girlfriends who threw me a wonderful bachelorette party. The party was here in NYC (I was going to do a full recap but then life happened and now too much time has passed I think) and my only request was “wineries.”

A VEUVE CLICQUOT MEGAPHONE. AKA MY GREATEST DREAM REALIZED.
A VEUVE CLICQUOT MEGAPHONE. AKA MY GREATEST DREAM REALIZED.

We went out to dinner at one of my favorite spots Friday night (and everyone wore workout clothes in my honor! do they know me or what?), and then Saturday we were up early to head out east for some vineyard hopping.

Ruined it.
Ruined it.

Without doing a big long rundown, the weekend was low-key and no drama and fun and I got to drink good wine and wear spandex the whole time. A very happy Ali, indeed.

Sash, veil, sunglasses, bottle of sparkly: a bachelorette success.
Sash, veil, sunglasses, bottle of sparkly: a bachelorette success.

Most importantly, I got to spend a weekend with some of my very favorite people, and I can’t wait to hang with them all again in just 2.5 months (whoa.)

It was kind of rainy, but THE SUN NEVER SETS ON A BADASS.
It was kind of rainy, but THE SUN NEVER SETS ON A BADASS.

I’m thankful for people who are good and honest and kind. Some people are assholes, you know? Some people thrive off saying nasty things to other people, and build themselves up by putting others down. Gross. (Remember, say it with me: “I’m 30. I don’t have time for this shit.”) Running into people like that, even if only sporadically (heyo Clueless reference!), sure makes me appreciate the great, genuine, lovable people in this world. And there are plenty of them! (There could be more though. Be one of those people. Be lovable!)

Pictured here: people who are good and honest and kind.
Pictured here: people who are good and honest and kind.

And on that note…

I’m thankful for having so many college friends in my life. I was at a college friend’s wedding in Vermont a few weeks ago, along with several other college buddies. We were talking over lunch and realized holy crap, we’ve been friends for more than 10 years. That’s pretty amazing.

BEST COLLEGE FRIENDS.
BEST COLLEGE FRIENDS.

I definitely still have college friends and former roommates I talk to daily (yo Dee, yo Lone, sup?), and others I may only check in with when one of our ridiculous ex-boyfriends posts something laughable and amazing on Facebook and we want to giggle about it and reminisce and question all the wretched decisions we used to make (not including going to the cafeteria for two bacon egg & cheese sandwiches on a hungover Sunday morning, because that was always a great healing decision). But still, to have them all in my life after “all this time?” It’s awesome and I cherish those friendships so much.

On the left: college friend. On the right: friend since babies. Awesome.
On the left: college friend. On the right: friend since babies. Awesome.

I am — always and forever — thankful for my yoga practice. It is a practice, indeed. Last week I went to six classes. This week? Zero. I’m not as consistent as I’d like because my studio is all the way downtown and I’m all the way uptown (life is hard), but every single time I go there I leave feeling amazing. And even with a fairly inconsistent practice, my handstand and forearm stand are still kickin’!

Ali wears short shorts.
Ali wears short shorts.

I’m truly very thankful for people who pay me in a timely fashion. Freelancing is hard. And sometimes getting paid for the work you do is really hard.

...that being said, I'm happy to have a job where I get to work outside sometimes! (This is me, working. I swear.)
…that being said, I’m happy to have a job where I get to work outside sometimes! (This is me, working. I swear.)

I’m so very thankful and excited for the new HOKA Cliftons. Have you seen them? Oh god they’re so beautiful. I’m dying to get my wide little feet into these shoes.

I’m thankful for raw, wonderful, no-extra-stuff-needed jicama. I’ve been eating it at rapid speeds. I should probably find out if it’s healthy. It’s a vegetable, but is it healthy like spinach or healthy like the way I say pizza is healthy because it has tomatoes (vegetables) and cheese (dairy)?

JICAMAAAAA.
JICAMAAAAA.

I’m thankful for living in New York City. Increasingly in love with this city every single day.

<3 <3 <3
<3 <3 <3

I’m thankful for my bike! I’ve been riding once a week or so, which isn’t much, but it’s a nice way to mix things up, especially since I’m trying not to overdo it with the running right now.

Hello from New Jersey (during a mid-ride downpour)!
Hello from New Jersey (during a mid-ride downpour)!

I’m thankful for convenient friendships. I’m not an asshole. (Ehhh…) I just love it when I have friends I get to see regularly and easily, you know? Like that’s what’s so great about running buddies and November Project people. You know you get to see them at least every Wednesday and Friday morning. It’s great. No long text chains and elaborate cancellations and reschedulings and impossibilities about it.

This is Sarah, and I know for a fact I will see her every Wednesday morning.
This is Sarah, and I know for a fact I will see her every Wednesday morning.

I’m thankful for my very good parents. The other night my dad asked, “So a taco bar and a mashed potato bar and pasta? That’s a lot of carbs at a wedding…” and I was like, “DAD, YES, CORRECT, CARBS WE NEED THEM.” That was basically it. That was our biggest wedding “fight.” My parents have been helpful and supportive and totally dreamy when it comes to all things wedding. (There’s a good chance I’m secretly up for adoption right now, though. How do I check? Is there an app for that? Like PetFinder for adult humans?)

I’m thankful for watermelon. I can’t get enough.

OBVIOUSLY THANKFUL FOR PUPPIES. I can’t get enough of those, either. Here are some of my latest puppy friends…

This is Emmitt, a 12-week-old pup who liked licking the sweat off my upper lip. I found him in Riverside Park.
This is Emmitt, a 12-week-old pup who liked licking the sweat off my upper lip. I met him in Riverside Park.
This is Finn! He was just 11 weeks old when we meet on East 90th Street!
This is Finn! He was just 11 weeks old when we meet on East 90th Street! He liked to sit down and be sleepy.
This is Nasher! He likes to go for strolls through Carl Schurz Park and loves mouth kisses with plenty of tongue.
This is Nasher! He likes to go for strolls through Carl Schurz Park and loves mouth kisses with plenty of tongue.
Nasher is not bothered by sweat. He likes to lay on it and lick it.
Nasher is not bothered by sweat. He likes to lay on it and lick it.
Nasher also loves to make friends with other dogs.
Nasher also loves to make friends with other dogs.

I’m thankful I’ll be skipping town for the weekend for some much-needed R&R in Fire Island! It’s good to have friends with “summer houses” and “country houses” and “beach houses.” See ya on the other side [of Long Island Sound or whatever body of water I will be crossing to get there].

I’m thankful for my health. Not a single day goes by that I don’t recognize how lucky I am to be in good health.

PLAY ALONG. It’s good for your soul. What has you feeling good and grateful today?

Ali

Ali

20 Responses

  1. I am thankful that my fiance comes back from Hawaii (2.5 months apart from him!!) tomorrow, and we are getting married this Saturday!! The wedding preparations are almost done, and I am so ready to walk down that aisle in a fluffy white dress and marry that hunky man. 🙂

  2. “That’s a lot of carbs for a wedding…” BAHAHA I’m thankful for your dad, I can totally hear him saying that! And let him know we will need the carbs for all the dancing!

    I’m thankful that for the second weekend in a row I get to hang with my adorable nieces, and my brother and sister-in-law and my mom! Up this weekend: Busch Gardens!!

  3. You’re spot on: there are some nasty people out there who do nothing but put you down and there are a lot more wonderful people out there. I just need to remember this… 🙁 having the former for a boss more 🙁

  4. Thankful for friends- getting together with some of my grad school besties for a wedding this weekend! Can’t wait!!!

  5. Are you done with the Stellara for Crohn’s trial? Or still receiving the IV meds? Update is on your health! I’m so excited it’s good especially with your upcoming wedding! You deserve a break!

  6. Thank you for this! (Much-needed today) I am thankful for my girlfriends who span across CA and the US. I am thankful for my health (filled out a research study recently for UC and was struck by how bad it was). Thankful for stone fruits (peaches, white nectarines, apricots, plums from our neighbors’ tree) yumm. Thankful for my pup and my boy (my “threenager”).

  7. I love this post!!!!! I don’t look awesome in photos, but whatevs. Carbs and stuff. Also, you are crossing the Great South Bay tomorrow, not the Long Island Sound. Just FYI. Should probs know that.

  8. I’m thankful that I GET TO GO TO HAWAII ON SATURDAY FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK! You bet I will be re-reading the recaps from your trip and pretending I will get engaged too 😉

  9. You are giving me puppy fever!

    I am so happy for you and your health! you so deserve it after your long road!
    I am thankful that my GI is sending me to a hematologist to get some IV iron infusions. The anemia + exhaustion are real!

  10. YESSS!!!! Glad (thankful?) this is back!
    Today I’m also thankful for sister trips, that I’m not having ankle surgery this week, and that my trip back to NYC is so soon!

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about ali

I’m the creator of the Ali on the Run blog and the host of the Ali on the Run Show podcast. I’m also a freelance writer and editor, a race announcer, a runner and marathoner, a mom, and a huge fan of Peanut M&Ms, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (way better than the first one!), and reliving my glory days as a competition dancer in the early 2000s. I’m really happy you’re here.
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Happy Thankful Things Thursday!

Yesterday, my friend Tory told me that every day after she wakes up, she thinks of 10 things for which she is grateful. Every. Single.

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