things to be thankful for

Near the beginning of November, I saw several of my facebook friends posting reasons they were thankful, or posting something they were thankful for every day.  The idea stuck with me and I couldn’t shake it.  One persistent thought was that when people are asked what they are thankful for, they usually immediately think of friends and family.  Those are nothing to be scoffed at, and that I am thankful for my friends and family goes without saying.  I couldn’t help thinking though, about the simple things in life that I am thankful for, things that I encounter daily or what make me who I am.  A mental list started growing and continued expanding until I wondered if I could think of 100 things for which I am thankful.  It started getting difficult towards the end of the list because I didn’t want to just start naming off everything that I own or naming things that make me happy.  I thought individually and intentionally about each thing on my list.  Some of them are simple and others complex ideas; some of them are silly and some of them are serious; some I think about every day and others I often forget.  They are not numbered, but there are 100.  I promise.

I am thankful for:

My dog and her abounding energy

That my dog stayed alive to two years in the Paraguayan campo

My thirst for knowledge

How the first sip of coffee in the morning always is amazing

Hot showers

The privileges that come with my United States Passport

The education I have received

My mother never yelling at me for the perpetual holes in my jeans

The freedoms that come from being a woman in the 21^st century

Luxurious hours spent reading good books

The quiet and peace of early mornings

When I can see the sky full of stars

The fact that I grew up near the Pacific Ocean

The profundity of silence

My mother never expecting me to be anyone but myself

Growing up an athlete

Doctors who have kept me healthy and many times saved my life

The clear mind I get from a good walk or run

Sweatpants

Contagious laughter

When I cook a good meal and am able to share it with someone

Dark chocolate

Pictures that become memories of my past

The lingering smell of campfires

The women I have worked with who have taught me how to listen and be patient

Large cups of tea

The sound of the ocean

My computer

My ability to laugh at myself

(in my Aunt Lissa’s words) Successful bowel movements

Knowing more than one language

The English grammar that was drilled into my head growing up

The beautiful innocence of children

Trees

Terere on hot, humid days

Wine and cheese nights with my family

Warm jackets

Traveling

The magic I still feel on Christmas morning

My mother forcing me to learn to play the piano

Growing up with cousins

The awe I feel when I’m on top of a mountain

Ice

When I can justify buying new socks

Afternoon naps

Wildflowers

Public transportation

Mexican food

Never truly going hungry

Sleep

Music

The fresh smell that is present after the rain

Being able to see growth in myself

Scarves

Pools

Easy access to fruits and vegetables

My Ipod

Having a kitchen furnished with dishes and utensils

My “large” New York apartment

The opportunity to live in New York

My experiences in Paraguay

The diverse landscape of the United States

Sunrises

Holidays which give reason to get together with friends and family

Living in a relatively stable society

Thunderstorms

Sunshine

The ability to see

Bright colors

Good roads

Libraries

People in my life who make me laugh

Access to clean water

Not needing to make a fire everyday to cook my meals

Insulated walls

Mate in the winter

The invention of sliced bread

Having a warm place to sleep at night

My dog always being happy to see me when I come home

Freckles

The right to vote

People who understand me

Hope

My earring collection

Being allowed to wear pants

Chapstick

The way that the smells of homemade food waft through the house

Frozen yogurt

Feeling safe when I sleep at night

Washing machines

Dryers

Indoor plumbing

Memories of camping trips

Good dental health

The ability to express myself

While maybe it goes without saying that I am thankful for my family, that often goes unsaid.  My family and the idea of family are sacred to me and I can’t bring myself to just add people that I love to a list.  Instead of listing my sisters, my mom, and my cousin who is like a sister to me, as people I am thankful for, I find it appropriate to list reasons why I am thankful for each one of them.  Because they are what are most precious to me, I think it right to leave these reasons at the end.

Jody’s joy for the simple and natural life

Chelsea’s drive to continue, even when she doesn’t understand

Dani’s brilliant, satirical wit

Tessa’s stunning brilliance and beauty

My mother’s compassion and ability to see