give thanks

Tomorrow is the first Thanksgiving that I will not be having a nice sit down family-ish-turkey included-nice dinner. I'm really uspet about it. I mean, I love that time. It's one of my favorite holidays even if I only get to share it with two of my family members and have to cook dinner in a foreign kitchen, it really means a lot to me. I'm upset about it because this dilemma could have been avoided. Well, I guess, what could I do? I have little control over the situation. I guess I just never wanted to be one of those people getting take-out for Thanksgiving.

Enough of that. On to what I'm thankful for, because I feel like I need a reminder sometimes. Although lists are fun, I'm going to go for stream of consciousness paragraphs, I apologize.

First, I think I'll begin with myself. I am thankful that I have the ability to think and can express myself reasonably. I'm thankful that I feel like I can make decisions by myself and live in a place where I am free to do so. I'm thankful that I have a working body, which I might not always show my appreciation for properly, but in general I think we make a pretty good team. I think my body fits my personality (or vice versa? is that a weird thought?) and I'm happy with it for now. I'm happy that I have the ability to be responsible and work for what I have, and I am happy I wasn't just given everything. It makes me appreciate what I have more. I am appreciative for what I have been given, I'm thankful that my parents are supportive at many points in my life and I am thankful for the 18 years they spent supporting me, even if it was tough sometimes. It taught me a lot. I am thankful that I am Florida right now, especially because it's my first free trip this year (thanks, dad!). I am thankful for all the other times I've been here, too. I think I need a break sometimes, although I'm becoming soft for the cold weather of Madison. I am thankful for Madison. I love it, I love all the opportunities I've been given while living there.
I'm thankful for all of the people in my life. I'm thankful for the support my family has given me, I'm thankful for my friends for putting up with my ridiculousness. I'm thankful for the people from my past who have taught me lessons, even if I don't always take my own advice. I do learn from you. I'm thankful for all my memories that teach me and remind me valuable lessons about myself and give me something to smile about.
I'm thankful for all the hope in this world. Even though high hopes might make me disappointed sometimes, I have so much hope for my future and have goals and dreams because to me they often do seem like they can be realized.
I'm thankful for goofy things, like dairy products, Disney World and my yoga pants. I'm happy there are things in my life that I can look to for an escape from all the seriousness. I'm happy for those nights I've spent awake with my best friends, just 'shooting the shit.'
I'm thankful for all the people in the world who care about other people. Although this post is at best incomplete and pretty self centered, this world would be very different if the people who dedicate their lives to less fortunate chose to live differently.

I hope everyone has a nice Thanksgiving tomorrow. I know many people look at the holiday cynically with the white man killing the natives, but I think Thanksgiving has evolved into a day in which we should remind ourselves what we're really grateful for.

gobble gobble!