So, what are you thankful for?

In My Humble Opinion
1

The title says it all. What are you thankful for at this stage of your life?

Me, I’m very thankful for my employer. The company is struggling a bit, but that’s largely because our future looks good and we’re growing. We just moved into a building, and that has placed us in debt; however, this is symptomatic of our growth and progress.

I appreciate the boss as well. He’s much better than many other bosses I’ve known or heard about. He genuinely cares about his employees, and most impressively, he truly understands the creative process. He recognizes the importance of letting ideas simmer and percolate, instead of simply plunging right in and building stuff. He realizes that the best work often comes while someone is letting ideas brew, rather than simply chugging away to attempt a fix. From my own experiences – both here and at some previous jobs – I know how important that can be.

He has even asked me to put together a small gym for the company. He says that he wants people to get a bit of exercise in during the day, as that is also a good way to stimulate creative thinking. (I’ll be looking for sturdy but low-cost equipment, since we need to watch out finances. Still, I like the idea.)

I also like certain aspects of the corporate atmosphere – in particular, the way the boss and my teammates pool our input and act as safety nets for each other. If somebody makes a boneheaded mistake, there generally isn’t much recrimination. Similarly, if somebody’s design work or marketing strategy is flawed, most of us point it out constructively. I’ve never heard anyone say “You fool! You should have thought through this more thoroughly!” or words to that effect. Rather, people generally understand that none of us will see the entire picture, that we all make mistakes (including big ones), and that we all bring different perspectives to the table. I like the way we correct and reinforce each other, instead of simply casting aspersions and blame.

There are some things that I dislike; for example, I do too much grunt work and I feel that I don’t always get recognized for my efforts. There are also some difficult individuals here. On the whole though, I appreciate the environment and I consider myself blessed.

2

In the grand scheme of things, I’m thankful to the forces (cosmic and otherwise) that got me to where I am today.

Here and now; I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge, good job, good family, friends, and health. I have this machine that lets me “talk” to people from all over the world; hear their stories, and share some of my own.

A decade ago, due to some cells that had a mind of their own, my future was uncertain. Thanks to modern medicine I was “cured”. Since then, I’ve been thankful most every day.

3

My wonderful, understanding, and supportive parents.

The friends I’ve made in the past year. Today I made a snide comment about a particular friend to another mutual friend, and he noted that I seemed to be doing that a lot lately. I’ve been thinking about it, and I have been rather mean where that said friend is concerned. He does try my patience a lot, and is annoying as all hell sometimes, but he’s still been a good friend when I needed him, and I am grateful. I need to be better at remembering that.

Just life in general. I am living in a wonderful city with an awesome friend and two cute cats. I have a job that I enjoy. Life is pretty decent, overall.

4

I am thankful that my life has been so much better in my 40s than it ever was. I’m thankful to be 9 1/2 years into a trouble-free marriage to a wonderful woman. I’m thankful to have my dream job, doing what I always wanted, for an employer who appreciates me enough to have created a permanent position for me. I am thankful for my friends, like the one who has let me use his drums until someday when he might want them again, and the one who takes me fishing on the Gulf of Mexico. I’m thankful to have people with whom to play live music again, after not having done it for a decade. I’m thankful that my playing skills have not atrophied from disuse, but have improved.

I’m thankful to live in our house in the suburbs, and for all the toys I’ve accumulated in it. I am never lacking for something to do that interests me. In fact, I may not live long enough to get it all in! I am thankful to have people to appreciate, who appreciate me back.

5

I’m thankful for that beautiful curly-haired sweetheart I married. I’m thankful for his tremendously large Italian family that feeds me things like fillet mignon and pasta and cheesecake whenever we go over for dinner.

I’m really thankful for this apartment, and all the beautiful wooden furniture we have, and the fact that I was able to find space for an altar in here despite the size of the place.
I’m thankful for my state, Michigan, and all its changing seasons throughout the year, to remind me of the inevitability of change.

I’m thankful I can afford therapy, thankful for my new therapist, and this weird feeling that I am starting the beginning of some amazing adventure that will leave me forever changed for the better.

And yeah, I’m TRULY grateful for my job, for bosses that allow me to be human and afraid and still treat me like an equal. I’m grateful for my wonderful coworkers and being able to throw jokes back and forth in Spanish during the downtime. I love the recognition that I get for doing well, the friendly and sincere chitchat, and the feeling that I’m part of something bigger, a family.

I’m infinitely grateful for my grandparents, who are some of the most self-sacrificing people I’ve ever known. I feel blessed to have such a unique relationship with my grandfather and to know that he is proud of me and my husband and everything we have done with our lives. And I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to take care of my grandmother, to try to thank her for every time she’s taken care of me.

I’m thankful that right now I’m finally feeling real gratitude.

Thanks, Universe.

6

At my age, I’m just thankful that I am still on the right side of the sod.

7

I am thankful for my incredibly supportive and interesting parents.

I am thankful that I get to study at this university.

I am thankful for the fact that I have what I need and most of what I want.

I am thankful that along with 25ish friends I get to have a real Thanksgiving tonight for the first time in 4 years.

8

So many things…

Married to a wonderful woman for 17+ years.

Three young sons, all healthy, smart, lovable and well-behaved.

My health.

A good job that I like - sometimes love - that gives me the chance to help people, protect the community, and receive regular pay raises.

My friends from Scout camp, college and law school.

Living in a nice house in a good city in a great republic.

A new President in just over a year.

The Dope!

9

I am among the most fortunate of men. I have been married to the Incomparable Sunflower for thirty two years. We have two lovely daughters, who are now the kind of adults that we enjoy spending time with. We have a nice home in a nice, quiet neighborhood. I have a good job doing work that I enjoy.

I am also thankful to live in the present. Fifty years ago, I would be blind due to uncontrolled glaucoma and or cataracts, or dead due to heart problems brought on by an elevated cholesterol level. A drop in each eye and a Lipitor every day and everything is alright. Five weeks to go for my second cataract surgery, and life is good…

10

I am very thankful for my husband.

He is rock solid no matter what slings and arrows of life throw at him, me or us. He’s got my back and I have his. ( and all the dirty laundry.)

I am thankful every day 1000% for my health and the health of my children and husband.

I am thankful one billion percent for our children. Somewhere out there there are two families that got our real children and we have these smart, respectable, well behaved-in-public, children who happen to look like us. I see some of the shit some other parents go through with their kids and even my kids go, “WTF” in their own kiddie way.
I am thankful for our friends. They listen to our complaints and we listen to theirs. We are all in the same boat together: broke, tired, never going to retire. They bring beer and we bring jager and we laugh at it all.
I am very thankful for injectable Imitrex.

11

I’m thankful for the arrival of my youngest relative. He arrived safe and healthy and darn cute.

I’m thankful that an old friend muscled her way back into my life. This could well turn out to be awesome. The saucy minx.

I’m thankful that my father is getting his health concerns under control.

12

My family and friends.

Modern medicine. Without it I wouldn’t have a father, and I might not even have me.

My church and fellow members. My 2nd/3rd grade Sunday School students are cool.

My cats.

Good food.

My job. I’ll never be rich as a baker, but I like going to work. That counts for something.

13

I am most thankful for David–my soulmate of 33 years and my husband of 29 years (yes, it’s the same person :stuck_out_tongue: ). We have had our ups and downs and are closer and more strongly committed because of them.

I am second most thankful for my daughter Lyssie, my closest female friend who very seldom gave me a moment’s worry (even through her teenage years), of whom I am enormously proud, and with whom I helping plan her '08 wedding to HER soul mate.

I am third most thankful for my loving parents (Dad’s deceased a year now) and brother who gave me a non-dysfunctional childhood, untold happy memories, role-models for my own adulthood, and unconditional support and love. Janet, Arthur, and Jeff.

I am fourth most thankful for a job I love–teaching kids–and a school system that values my contributions and shields me from much of the crap thrust upon educational institutions in these days of NCLB.

I am also thankful for my three sweet kitties, my awesome in-laws, my physical and financial health, the Red Sox winning two World Series in my lifetime, my pool, my summer vacation, my good friends, Grey Goose vodka, autumn, Papermate SharpWriter mechanical pencils, Cole Porter, polar bears, the Founding Fathers, marijuana, dark chocolate, The Wire, fettuccini Alfredo, Paris, science, Tom Brady (fantasy league), the Industrial Revolution, and the Dave Matthews Band.

14

Inspired by Proudest Monkey… I’m also thankful for Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes, Arthurian legend, historic flags, J.R.R. Tolkien, Star Wars, Hellboy, Civil War history, cheetahs, bald eagles, and cats.

15

First and foremost, I’m thankful for my wonderful husband. I don’t know what I ever did to the Cosmos that was good enough to deserve a husband like him, but it must have been good!!
My kids. The two younger ones are remarkably healthy and well-behaved (even though one of them is 16!!) The oldest, well, only time will tell.
Modern medicine. There’ve been at least three times in the past I’d certainly have died without modern antibiotics. And lots of times over the past 30 years that I would have been in agony for days on end without modern pain medication.
Concerning the above, I’m grateful every single day I don’t have any kidney pain!!

Just about two years ago, my husband landed his dream job, as a professional geek for the federal gov’t. Prior to that, we had about two very financially tight and grim years. His current job brought an end to those years. In addition, it brought incredible health insurance that makes my chronic health problems more approachable. As if all that weren’t enough, that same health insurance paid for weight loss surgery for me about a year and a half ago, that has allowed me to lose just about 145lbs. I cannot think about all this without being overwhelmed with gratitude!

Technology? Lemme see. The internet; my DVR; so many things.

And of course, the “everyday” stuff: a house to live in, clothes on my back, plenty of good food to eat and to feed my children, the love of my family and friends, music, books, movies and other entertainment.

So much. I probably could go on forever! But I’ll stop here. :wink: