Gratitude

We have just completed our 30/30 travel challenge! Travelling to 30 places while we were 30 was a great way to make entering the 30's so fun! We are SO thankful for all of the friends and family that were excited about it for us and asked about our trips. Your enthusiasm about this silly little idea made it so much more fun! We also LOVED hearing that our travels inspired others to take trips, and we got great trip ideas from others. We are very thankful to have great jobs that allow us to travel together often throughout the year. We especially loved that some really special people were able to share in some of our adventures, and the incredible memories created will be treasured forever! We travelled near and far, appreciating so much of the beauty and wonder in this world! We especially loved discovering more of the beauty that is essentially in our backyard- we are still in awe of our surroundings! Above all, we realized the truth in this beloved quote: “anything one does every day is important and imposing and anywhere one lives is interesting and beautiful”-Gertrude Stein. 

I also created a little list of "Thirty Thoughts" that was really just for me, but then I thought I'd post it here as part of our wrap up! Read on if you wish - these are in no particular order :)

• Be ME!
• And sometimes, just BE.
• Explore your own backyard.
• Go to the places you dream about.
• Keep learning.
• Spend money and time on experiences, not things.
• Love being in your own company.
• Say thank you and I'm sorry.
• Choose kindness. You'll never regret being kind.
• Immerse yourself in nature whenever possible.
• Eat ice cream whenever you want. (I did mention this was a personal list, right?!)
• Be generous, but stand up for yourself.
• Jam-pack your life with things/people you love.
• Choose happy every day. 
• Try new things, even when they are scary. 
• Listen. 
• Be spontaneous.
• Invite others to join you. 
• Take time to marvel and be in awe of your surroundings.
• Compromise.
• Remember who is responsible for your happiness. (spoiler alert: you)
• Practise patience.
• Some things that are "good" for others are not good for you, and that's ok.
• Be passionate about what you do, and do what you are passionate about.
• Read good books. 
• A good journal, a good friend, a good sleep and a walk in nature can solve almost everything.
• Make ordinary events more fun. 
• Appreciate the great moments, as there are many. 
• Love. A lot. Share your love with everyone, even when you don't feel like it.
• Have a goal? Do it now.

I will be trying to keep these thirty thoughts in my head as I head into this next year! Thank you again to all of the wonderful people in our lives! We are now totally looking forward to the fun that the rest of the 30's will offer! 

The Burgess Duo