I am in denial that fall has arrived.

I know that the autumnal equinox has not happened yet, but for all intents and purposes, fall seems to be here.

Colder. Shorter days. Pumpkin spice recipes assaulting my Facebook newsfeed. School started. This text from Rachel:

I used to despise the heat of summer, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve become soft and now prefer to be a sweaty mess 24/7 than a frigid bundle of misery who does not want to move, even though I know that movement makes me warmer.

Wahh wahh wahh.

To get myself to stop complaining about things that should not be complained about, I am going to express my gratitude for good people in the world by giving some of them — friends and strangers alike — an old fashioned SHOUTOUT.

Shoutout to strangers driving in Boston who stop the endless stream of traffic to let passengers walk.

Shoutout to Rachel for still being my #1 foodie friend. We knocked out TWO bucket list places within an hour: chocolate chunk cookie from Blunch and sticky bun from Flour. We split each of them, which was the perfect amount of dessert, and both of them were fantastic. Highly recommend both if you’re ever in Boston!

I made a good life choice and decided to do a “murderous workout” (upon Ben’s request) right after this. Shoutout to him for working out with me three days last weekend! This was the “murderous” workout from Friday that I came up with:

2 ROUNDS:

• 10 double lateral jump over burpees (over partner doing plank, 5 each)
• 50 air squats
• 10 elevated pike pushups
• 50 tuck jumps
• 10 spiderman pushup burpees
• 50 jump lunges
• 10 supermans to pushup
• 50 skaters
• 10 roll backs to jump up
• 50 prisoner squats
• 10 inchworm triple pushups
• 50 side jump lunges
• 10 burpee bench jumpovers

’twas a beautiful (slightly chilly) day outside on Friday!

On Saturday, he came up with this one:

3 rounds:

• 10 prone tricep extensions
• 10 step ups each leg
• 10 overhead tricep extensions
• 10 decline situps
• 20 tricep dips
• 10 inverse rows
• 10 down up pushups

8 minute abs

And then on Labor Day, we did Julie’s “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” Workout, which is always a fun challenge.

Shoutout to people who hold open doors for others. I feel like I say this often, but it seriously is such a nice gesture these days.

Shoutout to two of my favorite couples who let me fifth wheel with them on Friday night. Our newlyweds, Sean and Alicia, along with Ben and Casey, invited me to go bowling and dancing with them, and though I honestly thought I would not be the only non-couple person there, I still felt pretty comfortable being the fifth wheel. We’re all good friends.

Shoutout to house apartment guests who insist on washing dishes for the host.

Shoutout to friendly yet non-creepy Uber/Lyft drivers.

Shoutout to my apartment-mate Lauren for inspiring me to be a more thorough cleaner of our apartment. It’s so great to live with people who care about cleanliness and hygiene as much as you do. (Also shoutout to Lauren for being understanding when I accidentally used all her ripe bananas, thinking they were mine, for baked banana oatmeal.)

Shoutout to Fiona for walking and talking with me for an hour through miserably cold rain to go to a church downtown to pray and go to confession. Always a lovely time with that girl.

Shoutout to my friends who go out on a miserably cold and rainy night to give sandwiches, socks, water, prayers and love to people who are homeless in the city. They truly inspire me to be a better person.

Shoutout to my aunt for giving me this delicious homemade organic pineapple coconut jam.

Shoutout to people who are going above and beyond to help with hurricane relief.

Shoutout to my brother’s girlfriend for giving my family special pasta (applewood smoked tomato fettuccine!?), which I was able to cook and toss with sun-dried tomato pesto, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, and homemade turkey meatballs.

meatballs with an absurd amount of onions in them

Shoutout to India Quality for making QUALITY Indian food. I went there with some friends on Labor Day, and it was everything I needed.

veggie samosas, papadum, chutneys, and NAAN to share (the NAAAAAAN ♥︎)

chicken saag

Shoutout to the Catholic Center community for being my home and my constant inspiration to invite others into the love of Christ.

and for giving out freeze pops on Labor Day

Shoutout to my old roomie Jordan for letting me celebrate her 21st birthday with her!

Shoutout to good gal friends who not only chat with you about all things life, but who also COOK dinner for you. Thank you so much, Mai, Dom, and Sarah!!

Shoutout to Elayne for reminding our whole study group about an assignment. #ResponsibleGradStudentsLOL

Shoutout to my whole study group for being awesome.

Shoutout to my parents and my brother, just because.

Shoutout to my friends who are just as busy as (if not, more busy than) I am, who prioritize God and maintaining solid relationships in the midst of LIFE.

Shoutout to YOU for reading this!!!

So tell me:

Who do you give a shoutout to?

Three fun things you did this past week!

Does it feel like fall yet?