Grateful Fridays

You know what is terrible? I'm resenting the impending arrival of shabbat. why am I resenting the arrival of shabbat, which should be a joy? I don't quite know. I think part of it is lack of a good book (on judaism or torah or a novel or anything). I'm used to reading something on shabbat, instead of watching TV or going on the comp. Part of it is I don't want to get off the computer. I think I'm feeling a little bit depressed and am retreating a little bit, so I don't want to get off the computer. I will, and I'm sure I will enjoy shabbat, I'm just not looking forward to it, which I feel terrible about. What worse way to start off the new year! The kitchen is more clean than it usually is, we have some delicious food getting ready, it will be good. We like shabbat together. I'm just not in the mood. And of course, watching TV online won't get me in the mood. but I'm not sure what will.

Anyways, this week, I'm grateful to have a job at all.

I'm grateful to the lovely fall weather we've been having.

I'm grateful to be living with my beloved J.

I'm grateful to live in a time where you can buy fabric and yarn premade, where pins don't cost a fortune, and where mail travels fast.

I'm grateful for my mother and her generations work as a feminist. Sometimes I might get a little down on them, because I feel they overemphasized being like a man and equality through sameness and compromised many of the benefits of being a woman in the process, and gave my generation as many socially acceptable choices as they had: one, now it is to have a career. But the truth is, they did amazing things. Just watch "Life on Mars." There is still sexual harassment in the workplace, but not much compared to the past. Women still earn less than men, but not as much so. They made huge strides for women, and I think so called "anti-feminists" do them a disservices. They don't realize how much feminists of the past did for them, besides giving them the chance and the near mandate of a career, which they reject. There are a lot of other aspects of feminism to value, even if you don't value that one. (and the truth is, the option to have any career you like, including stay at home motherhood, is incredibly valuable. That should not be the only option available to women and more than a career should be the only option.)

I'm grateful that the sun shines every morning.

I'm grateful to have had a fun evening baking bagels with Tami this week.

I'm grateful for my life.

Shabbat Shalom.