A Day of Thanks, A Day Late

I'm starting this post at 11:43 p.m. Thanksgiving night, so know that my intentions were good on getting this post up for Thanksgiving. Then again, I don't think that we need one day in particular to share what we're thankful for. I do think Thanksgiving tends to remind us though of all that we have to be thankful for.

This year has not been the easiest for me. I thought about that a lot today. I was at work and stewing on the fact that I had to work Thanksgiving and that I'm going to have to work Christmas and that I'm going to have to work New Years. And then I stewed some more and started thinking that no one else in the department has to work all three holidays. But I stopped for a second and thought to myself that it was actually a pleasant day at work today, between friends, we made the most out of being at work on Thanksgiving and there were lots of laughs and good company, and in the end, I'm actually very fortunate to have a job.

It's not always as easy as that. And I'm certainly not trying to be dismissive of a bad situation by saying "just make it positive and it all goes away!" Because it doesn't for the most part. There are certain things in life that just suck. Personally, I just need LESS suck in my life lately because there's been a whole lot of it this year and much of it (too much) has been out of my control.

For me, it's always been  easy to get wrapped up in what is out of my control and to try to make it in my control. This year has been a huge lesson in "CHRIS YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO CONTROL THE WORLD." Looking back on things today and taking count of my life as it is, I find though that there are so many things right there in front of me that I too often don't see...things that are staring me in the face, that I have to be thankful for. Wonderful things. And when I can tell the negative to take a hike for a second, those things are all so wonderful to enjoy.

Things like this. Sitting down with my blog. A constant in my life for the last seven years. Something I've lost touch with quite a bit in the last year. It's amazing how much of an extension of myself this blog has become over those years. It's an outlet for me, it's a place where I can talk about things both personal and about the things like books and movies and art that make me most happy in life, and most important, it's the place where I've made so many amazing connections that I will cherish forever and keep with me always.

I'm so thankful for those connections. For the people I've met through blogging. For the comments that make me smile, make me think, challenge me. For the posts from my fellow bloggers that do the same and touch my heart and welcome me in. I'm so thankful for everyone that this post might reach. Each and every one of those people have done more for me than they know.

And I'm thankful for my family. The holidays this year are very different! Not only am I moved out of my mom's house, but this year, my sister has as well, so I know it's going to be a big adjustment for my mom this year. But I know how we are and our family will always remain close and I don't think it will be much different than it ever has. I'm lucky to be in a family like that.

I guess the point of this post is just to say thank you life for the GOOD that's easily looked over, especially in a year of not so good. May the good continue though, not just for me, but for all of you as well :) Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving and for those of you not in the US, hope you had a good Thursday ;) And hope you all have a wonderful weekend coming up!