More FIGs from last week for the Finding Joy in Gratitude Collective. Thanks again to Elisabeth for encouraging us to find little moments of joy in every day. It’s not always easy, sometimes I have to look hard, especially on days that seem mundane and routine (and I cannot put a sweaty workout as a FIG every single day, or can I? Occasionally, that is absolutely the case though.)
Make sure, you check out Elisabeth’s FIG Collective’s week 1 and week 2 posts, if you’d like to see who participates and all the wonderful moments that are being cherished this month!
February 15
I nailed a very challenging Peloton Class and realized once again how much of every challenging workout is mental. If you get your mind to tell you, you can do it, you usually can. Your body usually knows what it can handle or not, but your brain sometimes wants to boycott and be lazy. Sneaky brain!
Bonus FIG: an afternoon nap!
February 16
I did the first run-through for our 2025 tax return (NOT THE FIG). It’s a little bit more complicated this year (because of my MIL’s passing and financial circumstances that we didn’t forsee at the beginning of last year). We will owe this year (BUMMER!) but I am grateful we can pay it and that I am able to wrap my head around everything, so we can prepare better for next year. Do you have an accountant or do you file your taxes yourself?
February 17
Two little duckies swimming morning laps in our community pool. (Also: that morning light!)
February 18
I had a good meeting with my new supervisor today. I hadn’t really talked to her since January, so it was great to check in. I got my annual leave approved (not that I thought it would be a problem) and she also confirmed that because of my maxiflex schedule, I am free to shift hours around if I need a different day off. I am super-thankful that she’s so laid back and flexible.
February 19
I realized today that I really like one of the girls women who still work in my office. She’s been here almost as long as I have but for years, our paths never crossed and I knew of her, but didn’t know her and from afar, always found her a bit „unapproachable“, you know? Like, not super friendly and open to chat with. (Maybe she thought the same about me.) But it turns out that she is really nice and we actually have quite a bit in common. She’s a runner, she skis, we share book recommendations, and she generally seems to be a lot like me (personality-wise).
February 20
Did you notice the waxing moon tonight? It looked like a smile in the sky and that in turn always makes me smile, because did you know that in Germany the moon never “lies down” like this? California is closer to the equator (latitude 38N) and the moon travels more directly overhead, making the crescent moon appear horizontal. Germany is at a higher latitude (latitude 51N) closer to the North Pole and the moon travels in a lower arc across the sky, which makes the crescent look tilted or almost vertical. Fascinating, right?
Bonus FIG: I received a lovely postcard from London (sent from Florida) from Stephany in the mail. What a sweet surprise! I always love unexpected snail mail in my mailbox.
February 21
I had a really great long run. 11 miles sounded a little daunting today, but I felt really good the whole time. I’ve started fueling on these longer runs again and I think that is part of why I am getting through them okay. I definitely used to underestimate the power of proper fueling during long runs. Also, cool but sunny – perfect running – weather helped a lot.
Share a juicy, delicious FIG of your week with me!
Melissa
February 24, 2026 at 3:08 pmI love your mix of personal wins and little delights. A FIG this week was E’s wife (OK that felt funny writing E’s wife!!), who came to the family dinner on Monday. E was away for work so it is good that she comes over without him.
Allison McCaskill
February 24, 2026 at 3:55 pmOf course you can use a workout as a FIG every day – it’s a thing that’s good for you and makes you happy, which is fantastic. We are deep in winter and it is hard physically and mentally, but I don’t find it difficult to find at least one little thing to be grateful for every day, I know I’m so lucky.
Michelle G.
February 24, 2026 at 4:09 pmThese FIGs are lovely! The ducks in the pool are so cute! That’s a cool thing to know about the moon. I live at latitude 45 N, so I don’t get to see the smiling moon either.
Nicole MacPherson
February 25, 2026 at 5:04 amOooh those duckies!
I go with Rex outside every night after dinner, it’s a habit we got into because a) we have no fence and b) he’s black, so if anyone is driving up our road (unlikely, but it happens) I get nervous. Not that I should, he’s very road-savvy, but still. Anyway, I go outside every night and since we are now getting past the clouded-in stage of winter, I can appreciate the moon. Being a yoga girl, I notice moon stages and I was noticing it this week, it looks like a perfect child’s drawing of a moon!
NGS
February 25, 2026 at 9:21 amI think one of the things about FIGs is that you are grateful for the same things every day. A warm bed, my husband making tea for me in my thermos every morning, a delicious salad at lunch, how excited the dog gets when she’s on her walk and she sees a stick. Even if you recognize the same things daily, that’s still recognition.
Elisabeth
February 26, 2026 at 4:43 amI agree with all the comments above; noticing the same thing on repeat and deriving joy/pleasure from it IS a FIG. Imagine if you took your coffee or workouts for granted??
Those duckies in the pool! Too cute and, also, as I stare out at a GIANT pile of snow, I’m decidedly jealous ;)
Stephany
February 28, 2026 at 6:38 pmYay! I’m glad my postcard made its way to you.
I could honestly just list my cats as my FIG every day because they bring me so much joy, so I get it!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
March 1, 2026 at 4:24 amLove your FIGS. How cool to re-know a person from your office and connect. Also how cool that your supervisor is so approachable.
I had not ever thought about if the moon looks different in other places. Of course it makes total sense but I had never spared a thought about it. And then being curious about the sky is this month curiosity topic for me. So I am already smarter than before. I will check the moon up in the arctic now.
Not sure what the was stuff is doing in there though…
Sara
March 1, 2026 at 6:53 pm“If you get your mind to tell you, you can do it, you usually can.” This is so true. I thought about this a lot this afternoon. One of my staff members ran her first half marathon (yay!!), and I was tracking her all morning. This afternoon I was trying to convince myself to go on a walk. I reminded myself that she had already run a half marathon so I surely could go on a 2 mile walk. I ended up walking 4 and was probably better for it, lol.
I love a postcard. I’ve started sending them again myself. I try to buy a handful of them wherever I go and send them whenever I feel like someone might need a pick me up. It’s a nice surprise to receive them, and I hope it brings people as much joy as it brought you!
Jenny
March 5, 2026 at 3:59 pmYes, fueling on your long run will make all the difference! And yes, our brains are sneaky. But really, they’re just trying to keep us alive, and that means they don’t want us to do anything too “risky” (like a workout you haven’t done before). Thanks brain, I know you mean well- but I don’t need you to be a helicopter parent.
Those ducks… omg. That’s a giant FIG for sure!