The Little Things Nâat By Heidi Balas Thereâs a French proverb that Iâve always loved, âGratitude is the memory of the heart.â And even before I discovered it on a greeting card sometime in my early twenties, I had already deeply recognized the importance of reflecting every day on the little things for which I was grateful. It all started while working at a summer camp, where we were challenged to jot down a few items for which we were thankful in what was called a âgratitude journalâ at the end of every day. Granted, this was the late 1990s and if memory serves me correctly, I believe a certain daytime talk show host had made these journals quite the thing to do. We were given notebooks, and I was up to the task. Truth be told, I love a fresh notebook and I love writing. For the remaining eight weeks of that summer employment adventure, I wrote down at least five things that were important to me every day whether it was experiencing an act of kindness, enjoying a delicious dessert, getting a letter in the mail, hearing a great song, or even watching an amazing sunset. I continued this practice into college for a few years, learning lessons along the
way as I explored the depths of my gratitude. Primarily, I learned that even on what felt like the worst of days, there was always something that could inspire gratitude. Not all of my lists were comprised of sunshine and roses. Sometimes I was grateful for not fighting with a boyfriend or for having $10 in my bank account instead $5. I also learned that more often than not, I was going to have days when I was thankful for more little things than I was for big things, simply because the big things didnât happen quite as often. Over time (two decades, but whoâs counting?), I have gotten away from that style of private journaling and more so into personal blogging. I frequently write about what revs my engine and when thinking about what I wanted to share with yinz in this issue of LOCALpgh, I realized that it was the perfect opportunity to express what will always be in the memory of my heart about the place that I have called home for the majority of my life. With this in mind, I am sharing some of what causes me to pause and smile with you. Thus, here are the little things nâat that fill my Pittsburgh Gratitude Journal (in no particular order whatsoever):
Heidi Balas is a regular contributor for LOCALpittsburgh, and brings her own brand of perspectives to Pittsburgh at www.thesteeltrap.net.
I am grateful for: 1. âŚthe scenic views and topography that never cease to amaze me. 2. âŚKennywood Park and its ability to make me feel young and old simultaneously. 3. âŚbright pops of color on a dreary Pittsburgh day, like the Ellsworth Avenue rainbow intersection or the Horneâs Christmas Tree. 4. âŚwhen I cannot decide where to eat because there are so many delicious options on our culinary scene. 5. âŚour ability to turn a Port Authority bus and a sinkhole into the pure comedy. 6. âŚthe pet-friendly places that welcome our furry friends. 7. âŚfolks who appreciate the magnificence of our many businesses that reside in buildings that used to be a Pizza Hut. 8. âŚbreathtaking architecture like Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, the Cathedral of Learning, the Benedum Center, and Mellon Hall at Duquesne University (to name a few). 9. âŚchurch pirohi (the traditional Carpatho-Rusyn spelling in my family) and fish fry Fridays. 10. âŚwhen someone gives me a solid assist on the âPittsburgh left.â 11. âŚfolks who still refer to places by their former identities like Star Lake Amphitheater, Kaufmannâs, and the Forbes Quad. 12. âŚMikey and Big Bob, who always make me laugh out loud awkwardly alone in my car. 13. âŚseeing a locally produced show in the Cultural District. 14. âŚgetting amazing goods at a local festival or farmerâs market. 15. âŚpeople who donât brake going into the tunnels. 16. âŚDave and Andyâs, Millieâs, Delâs, and all of the ice cream shops. 17. âŚthe local businesses who provide such a positive vibe when I walk in the door. 18. âŚfall foliage. 19. âŚfolks who take the time to reminisce with me about the glory days of Century III Mall, the toy section and snack bar of Hillâs Department Store, the Civic Arena, and any other bygone landmark. 20. âŚepic cookie tables with to-go containers at weddings. 21. âŚthose times when I find a parking spot in Oakland painlessly. 22. âŚPittsburgh Winery for making my favorite white wine of all time. 23. âŚfireworks!
I leave yinz with this thought: No matter the season and no matter the reason, try taking a moment to reflect on your day to find a few bright spots. Pittsburgh is dreary for about 2/3 of the year, but your day doesnât have to be like our weather. The little things nâat about Pittsburgh can add up to something big. And, your heart will remember⌠I promise. | Issue 20
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