We used to do this at my family’s house growing up. Rules: One thing, explain why, last 12 months only.
Me: I got a new job last January, and it’s helped me immensely. I don’t love it, but the money is more than I’ve ever made in my life, which is helping me do a lot of other things I haven’t been able to.
Just the tired old line: friends and family. :)
I wish I could be thankful for winning a bunch of money at the casino last night, but alas, it was not to be.
Fire
“family” is too easy.
Since it has to be one year only, my new job. I love it, I am making better money, the benefits are extremely good, including lots of paid time off starting even in the first year, the work is varied and interesting, and I like my coworkers. I commute by train and I can read while on the train and the walk from the train to the office is entirely indoors. My co-workers refer to other employers as “the real world” and our company as “the nest.”
Life. All of it. Everything. Each moment is a gift.
I’m thankful for my life and my family. My health is good , my kids are healthy. I have a nice place to live and no real drama in my life right now. I am truly blessed. 
I’m thankful that I found a man who I’m crazy about and who returns the sentiment, even if he’s living 500 miles away for now.
I’m thankful for the people I work with, because we’re having a tough year and we’re sticking together.
I’m thankful for the Ipod Nano that I won through a drawing for my school district’s wellness program.
I’m thankful for my daughter and my husband.
I’m thankful that I live two miles from the yoga studio where I practice, so I can go, often.
I’ve thought about this today, and I really couldn’t come up with anything aside from my friends (be they online or offline), my job, and the fact that I have a roof over my head. The last 12 months have been among the worst ever for me, so right now, I’m feeling not terribly optimistic about anything.
I guess in just over another month, I can be thankful the year is finally over. But really, I don’t see much changing for the better for me any time soon.
I’m thankful for my boyfriend. Six months ago, he had the curage to ask me out, even though we were both still hurting from previous relationships. Then I had the gall to ask him to move across the country to be with me. And he was crazy enough to agree. He’s given me nothing but warmth and love. This was the first holiday that I didn’t dread. We are building a life together. And for that I am thankful.
Friends, family, my socio-economic status, my mental health, being a member of the greatest civilization in the world, the usual.
Let me count the ways…
My mother and sister: Despite the occasional spats and differences, I do love them immensely, and am very, very thankful for them.
My girlfriend: How a beautiful, loving, funny, caring, and intelligent girl like her wound up with me, I’ll never understand, but I’m thankful for her. Everyday.
My freinds: The kind that will be there when you’re sick in hospital, will wade into a brawl youve managed to get into - no questions asked, will be there for you through heartbreak and shitty times, and will never, ever judge you (although they’ll mercillessly rag you about embarassing moments till you want to slit your wrists).
My life: Sure, I could be taller, handsomer, richer, and the proud owner of a 2006 Shelby Cobra 500, an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, and a Ducati 916. But, I’m not too hideous, relatively well off, and I’m healthy and I have an IQ of 146.
Bottom line - I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.
My life, basically. I have a kickass apartment, a job that gives me plenty of money and oodles of free time, a brand new hot body that I thank dieting and workouts for (I guess I’m thanking my own tenacity), hobbies that I love, a family that I love, friends and pretty much everything I could ask for.
If I have to pick one thing within the last 12 months, it’d have to be my new body. I’ve lost in the neighborhood of 16 kg, losing a lot of fat and converting a lot of it to muscle. I’m happy every time I pass a mirror. I really didn’t think getting slim would bring this much of a change to my life, but it did.
New job that just fell into place. The people are cool so far too.
A little cushion money so I could take the new job
Enough cushion left over to start putting money back into this house.
Family of course.