I Am Thankful

Sometimes I wish we didn’t need a big production of a Holiday to remind us to take stock of what we are thankful for.  Wouldn’t it be great to have a daily ritual of quickly reminding ourselves the many things in our lives with which we are blessed?  Then again, I guess it would be great to work out every day, to meditate every day, to weigh 25 pounds less, to return every email, not to lose my iPhone, wallet or keys, to always be mindful. So I don’t, and am not likely ever to, remind myself daily of the things for which I am thankful. But I’m gonna do it today.  Because I have some big ones.

The last year has been one of big change for me.  Change can be liberating, exciting and exhilirating. It can also be scary, uncertain and overwhelming.  I have made not one but two big life changes this past year: a divorce and leaving the partnership I’ve been part of for 12 years to start my own new thing.  And I’ve experienced all of these feelings and more in the process.   What I am most thankful for are the people who have been in my life along the way.

First is my kids.  I am truly blessed with four wonderful, beautiful little (and not so little) human beings who call me Dad.  I am so very proud of each of them.  They’ve had some changes thrown at them, and each of them has found their way.  They are healthy, happy 10, 12, 14 and 15 year olds.  And for that, and for them, I am so very thankful.

Second is my friends and family.  I’ve put them through their paces this year.  On both the personal and professional front, I needed an extraordinary amount of stuff — advice, feedback, support, encouragement, calming down, psyching up. you name it.  And I had a group of friends and family members who were always there to provide it.  I received much more than I gave back, but I knew it was OK, because I needed to.  For the friends and family who were always there for me, I am deepful thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.