I combined two practices last night.

It was late, and I was having trouble sleeping. Often when I’m struggling to fall asleep, I will count backwards from 100. I think my senior-year roommate, Mallory, told me to do this. It works pretty well. I usually don’t get to the 40s before dozing.

Another practice I’ve been told to do every night (which I don’t do) is to list what I’m grateful for. The list can be long or short. Whatever you feel like writing that night. Remembering these things and people for which you’re grateful is an extremely positive practice. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and, well, grateful.

Last night I combined those two things.

With every number, I thought of a person, thing, or event that made me feel grateful. I didn’t just picture them. I played a mini-video of them in my brain, a clip that showed me their essence—an essence that makes me grateful.

I counted the next number, and someone else would spring to mind. Sometimes the same person came up more than once in a different clip.

I lost track once. (That’s part of the backwards counting that makes you sleepy, trying to remember where you were.) Even so, I made it all the way to zero.

So very many things, so many people for which to be grateful. Thank you!

Some of the sheep I counted.