personal

A lot of people who know me now probably wouldn't believe it, but I used to be an expert pessimist. I could ruminate on the worst aspects of any situation with the best of them. I've made several changes in my life in order to shift to a "glass half full" orientation; one of the things that helped me the most was to begin a "gratitude journal."

For the past few years, I've kept a notebook that contains lists of whatever I'm grateful for at that moment, however large ("I'm grateful for being able to visit my family at Christmas") or small ("I'm grateful for my flannel sheets"). I decided recently that I needed a practicum gratitude list. As any graduate student knows, many aspects of the practicum experience can be frustrating and annoying, but there are also many that can be appreciated. So, here's my current gratitude list for working at my practicum site:

- I'm grateful for being able to work almost exclusively with older adults and their families.

- I'm grateful for not having to search and interview for a new practicum placement every year.

- I'm grateful for having the opportunity to be involved in so many different rotations.

- I'm grateful for having a five-minute commute.

- I'm grateful for having my own desk and computer.

- I'm grateful for being able to work with bright, interesting, motivated colleagues who have similar professional interests.

It took me a while to realize it, but I believe one of the reasons for why I enjoy working with older adults is that I've grown up knowing my older relatives. I've been lucky enough to know three great-grandparents, four grandparents, and many great aunts and uncles in my lifetime. In a society that largely views aging with fear, disgust, or indifference, I've had the privilege of watching my older relatives age successfully.

My grandmother was one of those elders who inspired me to pursue my work with older adults. She passed away five years ago after a long struggle with cancer, but I still think of her often. Today would have been her 83rd birthday. A few things that I admire about my Grandma Hansen...

- her lifelong commitment to development and learning: in her youth, women either married and raised a family or chose a career, she chose marriage and returned to school after her children were grown

- her appreciation for the "little" things: a bird in the window, spring flowers in the woods near my parents' home

- her creativity: she was an accomplished rosemaler, sewer, and quilter

- her ability to express her pride in me: she was very supportive of my swimming career and working toward a master's degree in counseling

She provided me with a wonderful example of how to age well and I hope someday to be half as successful as she was.