Happy Thanksgiving

If you know me in real life, then you know I'm not a very sappy, sentimental person. I don't like talking about my feeeeelings and emotions in general, and I don't think I ever will. But hey, once in a blue moon, right?
Here it is, Thanksgiving. It seems cheap to me to profess our blessings and how thankful we are one day of the year because the holiday demands it, when we should be thankful every day for the people we share our lives with and for all the things we do have. For me it feels even cheaper when I think about the time this year that I've felt just completely stressed out, scared and hopeless. Yet I find myself feeling all gooshy and sentimental anyway.

2011 hasn't been the best of years for me and mine, but even so it's impossible to ignore all of the truly happy and wonderful things this year has brought. All things change - for better and for worse, through the choices we consciously or subconsciously make, or without our influence whatsoever. It's not always easy to ride that wave, but it is important to stop at the crests and gulleys and recognize that things could always be worse and to focus on the positives and not the negatives. Sometimes it's easier said than done, but it's always worth the effort, to focus on the good things in our lives and within ourselves.

So what am I thankful for?
My family - you stay with me when it feels like everyone else is walking away, and who keep me in check with reality. You boost my ego and keep me humble at the same time, and always keep me laughing.

My best friends, Lauren and Isabelle. You're the only 2 people (not related to me) who get my weirdo sense of humor, and that have the same affliction. You keep me sane, and kick me in the butt when I'm working too much (I need that too).

My Readers. You keep this blog fun, because I would have stopped months ago if I saw no one was reading it.

The fact that in this economy, I have 2 jobs. Not only that, but I have 2 really wonderful bosses that I seriously wouldn't trade (though, at the shop with Mom that goes without saying) and my co-workers are fantastic too.

Our customers. You keep me inspired and on my toes, and visiting with you is sincerely a good time.

My part in the shop and the quilting community. So many people can't say they are truly doing what they love and I feel blessed to even have a minor part to play in doing what I love.

Personal growth. I am thankful to have learned how to use stress as a learning tool instead of letting it defeat me, even though I have much more to learn in that regard. I'm thankful to have grown more and become stronger as a person, and to have just that little bit more confidence in who I am, flaws and all.


I guess I'm just thankful to be here at all and to still be standing, and to know the people I love so much are still standing too. Regardless of successes, failures, health or disease and between Health Care deprivation, student loans, bailouts, scandals, conspiracies and Occupy protests ...we're all going to manage just fine.
Happy Thanksgiving.