Tomorrow is the last day of October – Happy Halloween! – and with it will end the busiest, most hectic and most stressful month of my time at my current job, and possibly of my career.  Can’t talk about it, but it’s been a rough road – lots of long nights and high stakes debates.  Coming out on the other side, I’m still busy, and still stressed, but at least the worst is behind me (for now).  In the meantime, here’s what’s been saving my life in this busy season.

• My Nationals!  I’ve been cheering for the Nats, mostly casually, since they returned to D.C. when I was in law school.  And it’s been a longstanding goal of mine to recruit Nugget to Nats fandom – a tall order, as I’m fighting against generations of New York Yankees devotion on both sides of the family, but I think I’m succeeding.  As the Nats have advanced through the postseason, I’ve been tuning in for every game I can – sometimes staying up later than I should, but loving every second.  (That Game 2 in Houston, what a ride!)  There have been some weeks in October when the Nats gave me the only joy I had all week.  (Cough-business-travel-cough.) Although I have to say – this past week hasn’t been all joy as a Nats fan. But still, they’re giving me something to look forward to, and something to think about besides work. That’s huge.
• Coffeecoffeecoffee, as Lorelai Gilmore would say.  I really prefer tea, as you all know, but when you’re getting up at 4:00 a.m. to work, putting in full days of work and parenting with no break until 10:00 p.m. or later, and then tossing and turning all night – coffee is necessary.  I’ve joked that I’m going to set up an IV drip in my office and just take the coffee in directly.
• Related: tea from my favorite mug, because sometimes the littlest things make the biggest difference.
• Recognition from my colleagues.  I don’t need thanks or accolades to do my job, but when your boss says things like, “Thanks for all your hard work; you’re doing a big job and we appreciate you.  Get some rest,” it’s a boost for sure.
• Mountain pictures from a saner morning of hiking with my three favorite people, on my birthday.  I’m reliving that day as often as I can.
• Minions gifs, which so often say what I mean better than I ever could in words.  Ask my co-workers.
• The cozy grey sweater I recently unearthed from the bottom of my sweater drawer.  I’ve had it for years and it’s so soft.  Like wearing a hug.
• Baby pics in my email from my mom’s best friend, who recently became a first-time grandmother.  I miss the snuggly potato stage… although I don’t really miss the sleep deprivation.
• Hugs from my people, always.  After weeks on end of feeling like I’m at war, a big bear hug from Steve or a lap cuddle from one of my little wiggles is exactly what’s needed to snap me out of a funk.

What’s saving your life these days?