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Health, A Run to Clear the Head, & Grilling Below Freezing

Today was the strangest Christmas ever but I’m grateful that all of us in the family are healthy in the midst of this pandemic. I’m grateful for the 4 mile run that I took this afternoon. My headspace was bordering on severely depressed and some time outside made a huge difference. ...

December 25, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Family, A Gaming Build, & Last Minute Stocking Stuffers

We went to drop off gifts at the family’s today and got to see my mom, my uncle, and my brother and his wife and kids. It was short, and was out in the wind. But I’m grateful for the time together. ...

December 24, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Rest & Easy Dinners

With the holidays upon us I have a few days off. I’m grateful for a little downtime. I took a nap after my last meeting of the day and it was refreshing. I am grateful for that nap. ...

December 23, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Flexibility, Running, & the Sun

I’m grateful for the flexibility and the mobility that my job affords me which means I don’t have to stress about how to manage my son’s time off school over the holidays. I plan to go for a run this afternoon and I’m grateful for the ability to run. Running helps me calm my monkey mind. ...

December 22, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Sharing the Load, Permission to Feel, & Impermanence

I’ve struggled to come up with three things to post today. It’s one of those days when the weight of the world feels heavy on my shoulders. I am grateful to know that I don’t have to shoulder that weight alone. ...

December 21, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Winter Solstice, Peanut the Cat, & an Automated Butcher Shop

We are almost to the winter solstice, which is cause for celebration. I am grateful that there will gradually be more daylight everyday starting in two days. It’s grey today, but not too cold. I got out for a walk with my son and we spoke with the woman who’s cat my son has loved forever. She told us that Peanut died a few weeks ago but that he lived to be twenty years old! I’m grateful for the memories of my son sitting in the middle of the street petting Peanut. ...

December 20, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Down Sweaters & Dying Batteries

I took a walk this morning and it was pretty darn cold. I’m grateful for my down sweater which kept me warm. My wife called me this afternoon because the car wouldn’t start. I’m grateful that my dad taught me how to properly use jumper cables so I could get the car started and back home. ...

December 19, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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A Meeting, Values, & DIGEX

What a week it’s been. I am grateful that the work week is coming to an end and that my last meeting was with like-minded folks discussing topics of community, vulnerability, and gratitude. My workplace has five values: Disruption, Execution, Collaboration, Integrity, and Inclusion. These are lofty values, but the miracle is that I see them being lived by people at every level in the company on a daily basis. I’m grateful for these values and the people who live by them in my workplace. ...

December 18, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Memories, Feeling Better, & Carrying the Message

We lost my Uncle Danny yesterday and while it’s sad that he’s gone, I’m grateful that one of my earliest memories from childhood was him playing with me at the playground. He showed me how to do a “skin-the-cat” on the rings. I was perhaps 3 or 4 at the most. ...

December 17, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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A Reminder, Some Relief, & a Conversation with a Friend

Lately, for a variety of reasons, coming up with three things I’m grateful for has been a bit of a challenge. I was reading one of my books of reflections and I was reminded that life is what we make of it. Often, we must look for the light. That’s what this practice is all about. I’m grateful for the reminder. ...

December 16, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Telemedicine, Warmth, & an Old Friend

I had a telemedicine appointment today to talk about the fact that I’ve been gritting my teeth so hard at night that I’m waking myself up. I am grateful for the technology that made it possible for me to get the care I needed safely from my own home. ...

December 15, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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My Role at Work, My Health, & Cinnamon Tea

In the past 24 hours, the news that several federal agencies had been compromised through a suspected supply chain breach of a network management vendor. I haven’t been as grateful as I am today to no longer be in operations in quite some time. At the same time I have a great deal of empathy and compassion for all those in operational roles and employees the firm and agencies that got breached because I know how hard they have been and will be working for the foreseeable future and just how stressful it is to respond to a breach. ...

December 14, 2020 · 2 min · Damien DeVille
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Healing, Running, & Sleeping In

Yesterday, I talked with my dear friend who had open heart surgery last week. It was wonderful to hear his voice and even better to hear that he would likely be discharged to day. I’m grateful for the success and healing and grateful to have him in my life. ...

December 13, 2020 · 2 min · Damien DeVille
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Neural Pathways, An Old Photo, & a Warm Day Ahead

I’ve been reading the news this morning and even after only a short 39 minutes I am feeling overwhelmed. I’m grateful for this daily gratitude practice which has really made a difference in my outlook in this difficult time by rewiring the neural pathways in my brain. ...

December 12, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille
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Healing, Conversations with My Son, & Longer Days on the Horizon

I am grateful for the human body’s ability to heal, which is nothing short of miraculous. The fact that our bodies can repair damage and rebuild themselves never ceases to amaze me. I am grateful to have taken a walk with my son today. He told me all about the computer that he wants to build for his gaming setup. We discussed the fact that the graphics card he wants is hard to find and that buying it from someone who is charging more than retail is not a good way to go, and he agreed with me even if he doesn’t like it. ...

December 11, 2020 · 1 min · Damien DeVille