Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

November 17, 2010

People who journal about what they’re grateful for in their lives are 25% happier than those who don’t. Someone sent that out in a forward recently, so choose to believe if you want.

But that’s not why I’m writing this. I’m writing this because I really am so grateful for my life. My whole entire life.

I go back to the U.S. every couple of months, usually for a wedding. I live in Santiago, Chile, 5, 343 miles away from my mom in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But I see her ALL THE TIME. I see her way more often than I did when I lived in Florida.I am incredibly blessed to be able to live my life with one foot in Chile and the other in the U.S. and not have to worry about juggling work and responsibilities here, in order to take vacation to go there. Isabel’s post reminded me of that. It’s insanely awesome that my job brings me to both places.

When I went back for the first time to the U.S., after living in Chile for a year and a half without ever going to what was then home, I sobbed like a baby on the plane touching down in Miami. I cried so hard, in fact, that Seba took a picture.

And now, here I am. Packing up my bags to leave again on Saturday. When we just returned to Chile mid-October. Seba’s whining that we have to pack again so soon after a recent trip. And I’m telling him to STFU because he has no idea how lucky we both are, to have our health, to have our families and to be able see them both on a regular basis.

Is there anything in your life that makes you cry with gratitude? Tell me. Let’s be happy cornballs together

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13 Comments

I cried once when the plane touched down in Santiago! The andes made me emotional… and knowing I’d see my love after months and months of separation!

Comment by Amanda — November 17, 2010 @ 9:01 pm

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I also cry like a baby everytime Fran arrives off the plane in the states!

Comment by Amanda — November 17, 2010 @ 9:01 pm

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That pic is so sweet… I cried when i landed in cali after 4.5 years of not going!!! and not bc i couldnt go I just didnt go… This was the trip that changed my life (at that time) i will tell u about it in person!!! Too bad I had someone I knew from school sitting next to me and I was ashamed of crying. I did cry when i finally got my bags from customs and I saw 8 of my childhood friends waiting for me at the airport. The words: “Bienvenidos al aeropuerto Alfonso Bonilla Aragon” still move me everytime I land that will never change they mean I am home!

Comment by Catalina — November 17, 2010 @ 9:02 pm

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May I just say that you pull off crying like a champ! I would be mortified to have a crying picture of me (red puffy eyes, nose, cheeks…and on and on; those pictures from losing the state championship will forever be hidden). You look so sweet though! I’m glad you get to travel back and forth so much. I love how your mom is your best friend

Comment by Lindsey — November 17, 2010 @ 9:14 pm

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Â¡Sales tan linda en la foto! You know, lately your blog is like a source of happiness, it doesn’t make me cry but it certainly makes me think that things are way easier and better than how I tend to see them…have a great trip.

Comment by Flo — November 18, 2010 @ 6:45 am

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My husband… no matter what I’m going through he’s there for me and supports me. He puts up with my crazy and somehow he loves me too. Today is our sixth anniversary of getting engaged. I still feel like a newlywed.

Comment by Jenn — November 18, 2010 @ 6:56 am

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i weeped quietly to myself for probably the entire trip back to NYC from Stgo this time around. sad to be leaving my family and friends in Chile…miserable to be separated from my husband yet again (for another 3.5 months), scared to start a new and much more challenging job…and at the same time elated to be with my parents and my brother…i was so excited to go back to NYC, and also sad. crying was really the only option considering the crazy mix of emotions.

Comment by KM — November 18, 2010 @ 8:18 am

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This may be way too cornball, but it’s the little things! Like having hobbies I really love and having at least some time to pursue them. Also very grateful that I don’t hate my job, and that many days when I show up to said job someone will be making a pie and they’ll offer me a piece. I guess I don’t cry every time I eat pie… but I get close.

Have an awesome trip.

Comment by Carrie — November 18, 2010 @ 8:55 am

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Aww, that’s so sweet I just arrived back in the States 2 days ago after 8 months away, and when I saw my best friend at the airport, we cried. You’re so fortunate to be able to go back and forth so often!

Comment by Laura — November 18, 2010 @ 4:10 pm

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This is a really sweet post! And way to pull off a Hollywood cry… I’d be red and puffy with snot! I remember crying after touching down in the US after a particularly difficult trip to China, just thinking how grateful I was to be home and to be fortunate enough to have the life I do. Now I often cry on the flights home alone after visiting with my love, maybe with some gratitude for the time spent together, but mostly sadness. Anyway, it’s admirable that you are able to split your time the way you do. We hope to build a more flexible life that way too.

Comment by Laura — November 18, 2010 @ 4:46 pm

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Awhile ago i wrote a post about being upset that no where felt like home, but as I walked “home” today, I felt so lucky to call my little apartment home. Inspector Climate’s apartment home. his parents house home. my parents home.

I’m one loved girl! And I can’t NOT be grateful for that!

Comment by Deidre — November 18, 2010 @ 5:23 pm

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Awww, all these comments made me so happy! I think even more than someone who write down gratitude in a gratitude journal, people who read about other’s hapiness are even happier themselves!

Comment by Kyle — November 18, 2010 @ 7:22 pm

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You look so pretty after crying. I look like crap.

Comment by tokenblogger — November 20, 2010 @ 6:22 am

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