Written on Thanksgiving Day and published afterwards due to me getting distracted by my Gantt chart timeline for cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Before you laugh, it worked like a charm!
I think I can safely say this year has been awful for pretty much everyone for one reason or another.
It’s incredibly easy to talk about all the things gone wrong, or discuss all the bad things in life. But today is Thanksgiving Day, and no matter the origins of the day, I’m going to take this chance to talk about all the things I’m grateful for this year.
I’m grateful for.…. my health. I haven’t gotten sick this year for the first time in a long time. I enjoy my body usually working like it should (minus a dodgy hip and a brain that sometimes falls prey to a migraine). I’m in decent shape for someone who doesn’t work out much and am not dependent on any medications to live a normal life.
I’m grateful for.…. my career. Things were rocky the last few years, but those rocky stretches have really put a good working environment into perspective. I have a great manager, wonderful coworkers, and a meaningful mission to support. I feel appreciated and get challenged to grow with new opportunities. The people above me want to see me succeed in my career. My company sees us as people first and employees second, and have made that abundantly clear with their actions in this year of the plague.
I’m grateful for.…. a stable housing situation. This year is the first year I haven’t changed addresses in 4 years. Moving 8 times in the last 4 years is both low-key stressful and super stressing. Not to mention expensive. I’ve made connections with my neighbors, really explored my new neighborhood, and found favorite places to patronize (not as much as I’d like due to Covid but I did have a 4‑month headstart). I haven’t had to put my things in boxes and have been able to enjoy my belongings in ways that I haven’t been able to in years past.
I’m grateful for.…. being back in the Midwest. I felt a sense of unease at being so far away from my not-getting-any-younger parents and older relatives. I was sad I missed some big milestones as my niblings have gotten older. But now I am back and able to go visit them in a day trip. I am close if something happens (like I was 4 years ago when my nephew was born on Thanksgiving Day!). When the pandemic is over, they’ll be able to visit me and we’ll be able to take advantage of all the fun things St. Louis has to offer. As a neighbor said, living in St Louis is easy. The cost of living is low, it’s easy to get around town, and there are a lot of free and cheap things to do. I can’t say the same thing about living anywhere near a big city on the East Coast.
I’m grateful for.… my cat. He has been a rock to lean on this year as I spent more time than ever at home. He keeps me entertained and smiling on days when there isn’t much to smile about. He comforts me when I get low and purrs away my stress. He’s also beautiful and makes other people feel better with his pictures.
I’m grateful for.…. my friends. Even if I can’t see anyone in person this year, texting, calling, and video chats have helped the time go by easier. They offer support and help me feel less alone in this big world.
And finally.…. I’m grateful for my wonderful boyfriend. We’ve been able to weather this weird year together. Nothing like a pandemic to make or break a new relationship! I’m fortunate we found each other before the pandemic started. He’s opened my eyes to many things I would’ve normally passed over and is incredibly thoughtful and wise.…. not to mention devastatingly handsome, too! I’ve spent a lot of years alone or with partners who weren’t a good fit long term. All those experiences led me to realize just how precious he is to me and I’m very thankful our paths crossed the way they did.
May your day be filled with warmth and laughter, tasty food, and peace. Happy Thanksgiving 2020, everyone!
Thanks for reading! What are you grateful for, this year?
Lots to be grateful for Gwen, that’s awesome! Happy to read some of these and be able to relate.
Times are tough this winter, though there’s at least some light at the end of the tunnel now. Being closer to family in the Midwest sounds like a prudent choice. As you said, off to St. Louis when the world resumes. I know it kinda sucks we’re paying the big bucks to be on the east coast yet can’t really take advantage of most of the benefits (not that we’re not happy in our living situation!).
Much to be grateful for ahead of this holiday season. Cheers!
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