Shocking as it may seem, Thanksgiving is next week! One of my favorite holiday traditions – one we started when the kids were really young – is that each member of our family makes a list of 10 things they’re thankful for. We take turns going around the table, reading one at a time, and inevitably, we’re all teary by the third or fourth one.
Although it seems corny, it’s really meaningful to all of us. The kids don’t even complain about writing their lists (which I keep) so I know it’s important to them, too.
All of us are always thankful for our extended family – listening to each family member point out a specific reason they’re thankful for each individual is so moving to me – as well as our friends, the dogs who’ve enriched our lives, our health. I’m grateful for those things every single day.
But then there are the little things. The things that can totally make your day. The things that just make you happy. I think it’s important to recognize those, too.
So, here are 25 things I’m thankful for. Number 26 is that I could easily have come up with 25 more!
1. Barack Obama is still President of the United States
2. I get paid to go to the movies
3. Downton Abbey returns in January
4. My family thinks I’m “fun”
5. Chipotle just opened near my house
6. Uggs
7. Anthropologie bedding eventually goes on sale
8. My iPod – and ListenToYouTube.com
9. I get to drive past the ocean every day
10. Books
11. Starbucks’ trenta size
12. Oprah’s Lifeclass
13. The quiet room at Miraval
14. Zone Dark Chocolate Almond bars contain protein
15. Facebook
16. Jet Blue’s extra legroom seats allow you to board first
17. Aaron Neville and Ernie singing I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon
18. Shipping is free on Philosophy orders over $50
19. Sprinkles is close to my house – but not too close
20. Not Your Daughter’s Jeans stretch
21. FedEx packages that don’t require signatures
22. Online traffic school
23. Sweet Hawaiian rolls at Fusion Sushi
24. Zumba
25. The Warrior Canine Connection puppy cam
Great list LOIS!!! I’m thankful that I’m still here enjoying my life in my late 50s, and actually looking forward to 60s …most of the time!
Idiosyncratic, of course, letting people know things we’re thankful for also lets them know us better. Thanks for sharing, Lois! You’re terrific!
Here’s a few of my own! I’m thankful for…
1. Match.com It’s how I met my husband!
2. Pliers. Couldn’t make my art without ’em.
3. Mister Nezbit, my kitty. He keeps me company all day in my studio.
4. NYTimes crossword puzzles. They keep me humble.
5. iPads. They are simply magic!
I could go on and on and on and on…I have much to be thankful for!
I’m thankful that gas is still under $5.00, that my grandkids think I’m funky and fun, and that my Mom got her hearing checked.
My family
My grandkids (they get their own line)
My fabulous friends
An adventurous spirit
Facebook
Chocolate
Books
The fact that I own my house and am debt free
Great health
Love, love, love this Lois! I love this tradition as well. What a wonderful collection of lists you must have! I am grateful for many of these same things, a few of my own, and YOU!
That’s a great tradition! We have something sort of similar: a Thankful Tablecloth. It’s a cheap white tablecloth I put over our ‘real’ tablecloth, and every year every guest or family member at our table writes down what they’re thankful for this year and then dates it. Right now I think we’re on year 5 or 6 of this tablecloth, so it’s starting to get full, and it’s so much fun to look back over the years and see what we’ve each written before.
Traditions are the best. They’re definitely one of the things I’m most thankful for! (Downton Abbey and Obama, too.)
I may have to piggy-back on to this great post on my blog next week – you have inspired me! I promise to link back.
I too, am grateful for NYDJ. Eternally.
Great list. I’ve got a list of my own (the “M” list, not the “O” list), but i never thought anyone would care. Well, thanks for giving me the go-ahead. I feel a blog post coming on.
What a great idea. I love that you have the lists from past years. I would be having a cry fest at your table for sure!
What a wonderful idea to do with the family, and great list! Especially #11 & 19! Coffee and cupcakes, my favorites. You might have inspired a gratitude post in me too.
What a sweet tradition!
We do something similar but the kids are still pretty little so we limit them to 5 or they just keep saying the same thing over and over again!
LOL!