Obligatory Thankful Post

Yeah, yeah. I’m totally original.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States. Tomorrow, my family will gather at my aunt and uncle’s house and enjoy a meal with all the traditional fixings – turkey and stuffing being my favorite, of course. It will be our first Thanksgiving without Grandma and just typing that sentence makes my stomach flip-flop. Her loss is still so raw, but what I do know is that being around family – laughing and crying and reminiscing – is exactly what we all need.

Whew.

I didn’t intend for this post to begin on such a somber note, but it’s funny what comes out when you sit down to write.

Thanksgiving is a time when we take a step back from our busy lives and spend time with family, reflecting on the past year and everything we’re thankful for.

So, without further ado, here is what I am thankful for this year.

I am thankful for my mom. She supports every decision I make, calms me when I’m upset, and showers abundant love to me every day. She is my best friend and my safe place.

I am thankful for Dutch. He is the light of my life and my favorite friend. He is fiercely devoted to me and only me and that kind of devotion makes a girl feel good.

I am thankful for my brother. He’s the person I grew up with. We went through every up and down together, including ending the relationship with our father. He lets me be myself without question, and I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without him.

I am thankful for this blog. Through blogging, I have met people that I would have never known but who mean the world to me. The friends I have made, and still make, through blogging make this all worth it. I love identifying as a blogger and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

I am thankful for reading. It’s my favorite pastime and I love nerding out about books and reading and literature with other people. I don’t know where I would be without books.

I am thankful for my friends. Building your tribe takes patience, vulnerability, and effort. But when you find those people you just click with, the people you can be your total weird self with, it’s so worth it.

I am thankful for writing. It feeds my creative side and allows me to make sense of the jumble that happens inside my head. Without writing, I’m not sure I would be as self-aware as I am.

I am thankful for a beautiful apartment in a city that is slowly starting to feel more like home. I love where I live and I feel so grateful to be able to afford such a nice apartment in a more expensive part of the Tampa Bay Area. I’ve come a long way since childhood.

I am thankful for the experiences I have had while traveling. Traveling is such a gift, and I think many people forget that. Not everyone has the means to travel. I didn’t until I graduated college. I’m glad I make it a priority, but I’ll never forget that it is a blessing to even be able to travel.

I am thankful for my job. It is a wonderful job. I love what I do and I love the people I work with. You cannot get luckier than that.

I am thankful for football. Football has always been an escape to me, and it has been my escape over these past few months with all the changes my life has gone through. Football is a game I love, a game that connects me to my brother, and it brings me so much joy.

I am thankful for podcasts. I have no idea what songs are popular on the radio nowadays because I’m always listening to podcasts. They educate me, make me laugh, and help me feel less alone.

I am thankful for my grandma. She taught me so much and meant so much to me. She shaped my worldview and helped me see that I am a worthy, loved person. I miss her so much, but I can only hope to be the kind of person she was.