It’s Thanksgiving! The holiday that’s centered primarily around food. But eating until we’re stuffed as full as our turkey (or tofurkey) isn’t the only purpose for Thanksgiving. It’s also a day for giving thanks. Well, duh. So I want to take some time and actually say a few of the things I’m grateful for.
This is actually harder for me than it should be because I tend to focus on the negative. I try not to, but it’s a difficult habit to break and one I’ve been practicing since I was young. Though I feel like I should find unusual, unique things to be grateful for, in terms of an interesting blog post at least, it’s really important to take stock of the simple things and recognize and be happy for those things we take for granted.
Here are ten things I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving:
Alex and me at our wedding: our first dance.
1. I’m grateful to be married (for more than ten years) to my best friend, Alex, who is loving and supportive and always there for me.
2. I’m grateful to have not just a roof over my head, but an apartment that I absolutely love.
My beautiful kittens (from left): Ayra, Leeloo, and Tiger
3. I’m grateful for my three beautiful kittens who are so sweet and loving, and who want to be near us—even though the youngest tries to use my legs as a scratching post.
4. I’m grateful that I’m in good health and have all my mental acuities, more or less.
5. I’m grateful that we have enough money for good food, rent, clothes, and some other luxuries like a functioning computer and a pretty massive stack of DVDs.
6. I’m grateful that both my parents and Alex’s parents are in good health and still married, and that they’re coming to visit us for Christmas.
My family, celebrating Mother’s Day by Skype. From left, my aunt Toby, mother Amy, cousin Justine, father Raoul (in New York City), brother Henry (in Switzerland, in computer screen); Alex and me in right corner.
7. I’m grateful for the rest of my family: my brother and his family, my sister and her family, my cousins, aunts, and uncles.
My brother’s kids, Dominic and Viviana.
8. I’m grateful for my friends, both near and far, old and new, online and in real life.
9. I’m grateful for the online group of writers I’ve joined, who are always there with advice and kind words.
10. I’m grateful for art and culture, entertainment and beauty. I’m happy I have great music to listen to and awesome movies and television shows to enjoy, and a little time to enjoy them.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
What about you, readers? What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
