No doubt, its been a rough year across the board for most people in this country. Which is why Thanksgiving is such an important thing this year… to profess how truly thankful we are for what we DO have.
Every year, I’ve made it a point to write down what I am thankful for, and to revisit it later down the road. This used to be done on paper, but thanks to the blog world, I now have it online for all to see. So with that, here’s my 2008 Thanksgiving Offering:
- Health.
You never realize how precious it is to you until something threatens it. Going through what I have in the last year and the ongoing struggles have really made me thankful for my health. I’m here today, for better or worse, for sicker or poor. That’s better than some were able to say. - Learning to be Independent.
I’ve always thought I was an independent person, but I realized that a lot of me depended on other people and what their feelings entailed. This year, through all ranges of emotions, I’ve learned to be independent. I’ve done for myself, I’ve made sacrifices, I’ve made mistakes, and I’ve learned from them. I feel I’ve carved out a piece of this world that belongs to me, not to anyone else. And with that comes the feeling that I will be okay… - Friends: Old and New.
I have had my best friend for almost 20 years now, and no matter how often or little we talk, she is still as much my BFF as she was sitting in class at Sterling Park back in 5th grade. We’ve gone through thick and thin, we’ve grown up, we’ve lost touch and reconnected, but above all, she is always there and knows that I am there for her likewise. I’m always grateful for the wisdom that my friends old and new empart on me, for the support through my tougher times, and for the unconditional love of friendship they bring. Whether they are my friends in real life, or online, they are appreciated in my life. - Enjoying my Job.
I’m very blessed to really enjoy the work I do, which is something that I learned to really appreciate after last year. We all must make a living, but doing something you enjoy versus something you hate can really define you. I’ve been working at this job for almost a year now, and I’ve learned a lot that will come in very useful as my career progresses. - Hope and Optimism.
When things get tough, its easy to be drug down into the despair and negativity. I believe things happen for a reason, and sometimes it isn’t always evident why. But even when things are not going how I wanted, I’m thankful that there is still hope and optimism kept alive. Looking towards the future, I’m ever hopeful and sure that things will improve, and that all the struggles will have paid off. - Family & Loved Ones.
I don’t get to see them as much anymore, but I am always thankful for my family and their support in my life. I wish I could be closer to them, but even with the distance, they are always in my heart. Distance has been something that has been difficult for me being seperated from the people I hold closest to my heart, but there’s never a moment that goes by that I’m not thinking of them. I read a beautiful quote today: “True Friendship continues to grow even over the longest distances…. the same is true with True Love.” - Dreams.
Its been hard to keep my racing dream alive sitting on the sidelines for the past 2 years, but I’ve grateful that all the work is starting to come together finally and that I might get the chance to turn dream into reality for the 2009 season.
From all of us at Horsepower & Heels, we wish you a Very Happy Thanksgiving!
What are you thankful for this holiday season?