{"id":137596,"date":"2025-11-25T16:15:52","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T00:15:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/11\/25\/for-this-i-am-still-grateful\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T16:15:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T00:15:52","slug":"for-this-i-am-still-grateful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/11\/25\/for-this-i-am-still-grateful\/","title":{"rendered":"For This, I Am Still Grateful"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As this year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting once again, but this time, the reflection feels heavier, deeper, and more urgent. Last year, I wrote about learning to pause, to be present, to step away from the relentless need to be busy.<\/p>\n

This year has taught me something equally important: what we do matters. Not in the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 sense. Not in the \u201clook at how much I accomplished\u201d sense. It matters because our actions leave ripples. Our presence leaves marks. The choices we make, even the quiet ones, have impact.<\/p>\n

This lesson didn\u2019t come easily.<\/p>\n

In January, I lost a close friend and colleague. She was 38. She was far too young. She was far too good.\u00a0She was far too full of life and purpose to be gone so soon. She was the kind of person who believed fiercely in relationships, connection, community, and in supporting the underdog every chance she got. She never hesitated to lift someone up, to speak up for what was right, or to give someone the benefit of the doubt when the world was too ready to dismiss them.<\/p>\n

Losing her made me ask myself:\u00a0What am I doing with the time I have? How am I showing up for others? What impact do I want to leave?<\/em><\/p>\n

This year, I tried to honor her by living the values she embodied.<\/p>\n