Today I’m grateful for seasons. That might seem like a weird thing, but hear me out. I’ve met people who haven’t really experienced seasons. People from places like southern California, where it’s warm and sunny year-round. Or Arizona, where it’s a little warmer. Places where they haven’t experienced snow, or leaves changing color, or spring blossoms. I’m sure they all know about those things, but it’s not the same as having them happen all around you.
Autumn is probably my favorite season, but it’s a close race. Summer is a great time to be out on the water, or hiking a trail, or just enjoying a sunset. But winter means skiing and snow hiking and even bitterly cold days where the best thing to do is just sit in a warm, cozy house. And spring is when the flowers show up, and the shorts come out of the closet after a long hiatus. They’re all great in different ways.
So now, as I consider the beauty of autumn all around this area, I’m reminded of a simple photo I took a couple of weeks ago.
Seasons mean changes, and those changes can be a catalyst for self-reflection. As summer has faded into autumn, and now autumn seems to be gliding into winter, I’ve been thinking about what changes I could (or should) make in my life. That’s a topic for another post, but for now suffice to say that I’m thankful for the beauty of the changing seasons.
A few years ago, I wrote a series of half a dozen #givethanks posts in which I listed the big things I’m grateful for in my life. It was a good exercise, and an opportunity to reflect on what’s most important to me.
Yesterday Kyra asked me to create a blog for her, specifically so she can write a series of daily musings on what she’s grateful for. It sounds like her plan is to do it each day through the month of November, and if it goes well she might continue blogging. There’s a ton of research that indicates people who are more grateful are happier, healthier, kinder, and live longer. It’s really not all that surprising, but what is surprising is how seldom people really express their gratitude– either aloud to others, or silently to themselves.
So, inspired by my amazing daughter, I decided I, too, will spend this month writing a post each day about something I’m grateful for. Back in 2020 I wrote those six posts in which I called out my wife, my kids, my parents, and my friends. While those people are still the absolute best thing in my life, I don’t want to repeat what I wrote then. Instead, this month I’m going to follow Kyra’s example and just jot down some other things that come to mind. Here we go.
Today I’m grateful for my job. Well, technically what used to be my job. For twenty years I was a web developer, self-taught not only in the technology, but in running a company.
I poured so much time, energy, and passion into Zing. It was a huge part of my life, but not in the dreary dark soul-sucking way that some people talk about their jobs. I truly enjoyed the work I did; it was like having the chance to solve a new puzzle every day. Although the challenges I faced weren’t always “fun”, there was always a warm satisfaction in solving them. The clients I worked for were almost universally good, friendly, kind people. My team was invariably sharp, thoughtful, and talented.
It was a long journey, at times frustrating and difficult, to retirement. Those twenty years were filled with long days, late nights, and weekend work. Family vacations often involved popping open my laptop after everyone was in bed, so I could rewrite some code or troubleshoot a server. Managing a team sometimes meant hard conversations and difficult decisions. Yet through the myriad of things that made my job hard, there was a constant undercurrent of excitement and fulfillment.
Even after I stepped away from the daily responsibility of work, I continued to be involved in small ways. I closed the page on the latest chapter of Zing a few weeks ago when I shut down our office in Colorado. The guys continue to do good work, and it makes me proud that I was able to create an environment where they can thrive and (hopefully) enjoy their work. For the four years since I retired, Nick has done a great job continuing and building upon the traditions that made Zing what it is.
If I’m being honest with myself, there are definitely days when I wish I was back in the thick of web development, sharing an office with a group of like-minded programmers, hammering out PHP code in my latest effort to give a client a tool that will help them expand or even transform their business. I didn’t expect that. When my retirement was official on May 30, 2019, I wondered whether I was doing the right thing. And, reflecting on that and the intervening four years today, I know it was the right thing. But I also know I was truly blessed to have a job that was so rewarding and fulfilling.
Well, I’ve started working on this year’s Christmas cards. It began with a photo shoot in Utah when we were visiting the kids. Although our cards have featured only me and Pepper the last few years, I felt like it would be nice to include all the kids (and Ollie!) this year since we happened to be together.
Last week we happened to be at the post office to send a package, and decided to grab some Christmas stamps.
And today I’m beginning my work on the card itself. As always, there’s a lot of graphic design work to be done– no simple portrait photos for this guy! I’m laughing as I do it, and I hope it draws a chuckle from the 350 or so people who will be receiving it…
