mom

I know that appreciating moms is cliche (and thus, the reason why I didn't start with her), but at the same time, I don't think we think about it enough. I love my mom and although she nags me to death sometimes, she is incredibly loving and caring and wonderful. In fact, she is always telling us how proud she is of us and how much she loves us. It's great. I really look up to my mom because she tries to connect with everyone. When people meet her, they love her because she is absolutely radiating positivity. She is generally incredibly friendly and downright bubbly. Despite some cultural miscommunications (and embarrassing me as only mothers can do), she is so great and generous and (mostly) well-intentioned. I learn some of this from her and I feel like I would like to learn more. How to be generous and so bubbly. My mom is also amazing and taking action. She is so active in her life and I wish I were more of the same. She is capable of doing so much. When we were children, she'd work work work then come home and cook and hang out with us for as long as possible. I am so in awe of that. She continues to be active by doing yoga, golf, starting golf clubs.. really admirable. :) Sometimes I think about what life will be like whenever my mom passes away, and I really can't fathom it. She's always been there for me and she's my default call person and whenever I have something that I want to share about how I'm doing work-wise or how I'm doing with exercise/health stuff, I know she'll be there to support me (oh and also to tell me that I should buy that somewhat expensive thing because I don't treat myself enough). Even though my childhood wasn't the easiest, she has been a constant positive force in my life and I love her for it. Takeaways: 1. Be more positive / friendly, 2. Be more active in my life, 3. Express love for others.

elaine

Elaine is amazing. In a lot of ways, we are really different people, but she is one of my best, most loyal, most there for me friends. We don't hang out all the time or talk everyday, but when we hang out, it's just comfortable. We can talk, we can not talk, we can do something, we can not do something, and it's all fun and enjoyable. I really like having people like that in my life. Elaine is also a very caring person. She really takes care of her friends. She often cooks for them, she gets them things she thinks they'll like, she overall just listens and provides for them. I wish I were as generous and thoughtful as her! I really admire that she remembers what people like and thinks about them and gets people things that make them feel special. I want to do that more! Elaine is also really good at finding things that she likes to do and doing them. I think part of that is because she's pretty independent in ways. She gardens, she sometimes makes jewelry, etc. I wish I were like that but I don't know if I'm capable of it haha. I think because Elaine is independent, she is also pretty private and doesn't care what people think of her most times. I wish I were able to be more private like her and have some mystery to me, but I guess different strokes on that one so I don't mind this difference. I do want to work on not caring as much what people think of me and doing things I like without depending on others as much. That is something I need to work on a lot. Things to work on: 1. Be more thoughtful and notice things people like and remember them more, 2. Care less what others think and do what I want to do somewhat more independently, 3. Be generous.

"when you see the good in others, you end up seeing the good in yourself.."

I wanted to start a journal that's similar to a gratitude journal, but I wanted to focus on people in my life instead. Appreciate them but beyond that, think deeply about them and notice all the good in them. Things I'd like to emulate, things I can never be but appreciate that they are, things I'm glad that we differ on but like about them , etc. Hopefully this will be productive and make me a more thoughtful and appreciative person. :)