On Thanksgiving, I’m reminded to give my gratitude practice the effort it deserves. Here are some things for which I’m grateful, in alphabetical order.
Abundance in many areas of my life — food, love, and more.
Books! A foundational building block of my life and career.
Coworkers. I work with the best people. They are caring, talented, and fun.
Dishwasher. One thing I do not miss from my youth were the nights it was my turn to wash the dishes by hand. For a family of eight. I love having a dishwasher.
Exercise. I’m grateful that I’m still able to move my body pretty well.
Family. Obvious, but also true. I feel especially grateful that my two kids (in their twenties) have grown up to be people who care and do good in the world.
Graduation. I was able to hang in there for so many years fulfilling my educational odyssey, and finally saw it through to completion.
House. For all its quirks and frustrations, I love my 120ish-year-old house. It is one of a kind, with lots of character.
Ice cream. Enough said.
Jean jacket. Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo to share, and I don’t have it with me right now. But I found the most amazing jean jacket at a thrift store about six years ago. People compliment me every time I wear it. Best $10 I ever spent.
Kettle. There’s something deeply comforting about putting a kettle on the stove to make my tea as opposed to the efficiency of the microwave.
Labor unions. My own workplace union has improved my life immensely. And goodness knows we need some way of leveling the playing field. Solidarity forever!
Monarch butterflies. They are beautiful and important pollinators. I’ve started seeing them in my yard again the past few years since I got some milkweed established.
Nightlights. For those midnight bathroom trips.
Ordinary days. May we still have some ordinary days in which the curse of living in interesting times is held at bay, and we can experience the miracle of the everyday.
Paint. For the color it brings to the world and being an easy way to freshen up a room.
Quicksand, lack of in my life. From the tv cartoons and shows I watched growing up, I thought patches of deathly quicksand would pose a major problem in my life. But so far, I’ve had zero encounters.
Rainbows. Every sighting is magical.
Soil. Good dirt grows good food.
Thrift stores. I love a bargain and sustainability.
Umbrellas. I walk a lot, even in wet weather. It’s nice to get to and from work without getting soaked when it rains.
Videos. Funny and/or cute animal videos, especially. They are my salvation when I need an escape from stress.
Woods to walk through. I’m fortunate to have a few options for this not too far from my home.
X – I’m thankful for having mellowed enough to allow myself a pass sometimes without fretting about it.
You. Yes, you who are reading this.
Ziplines. So much fun! I’ve only been on two, but they were wonderful adventures.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Nomadic Noesis 