Thanksgiving. The perfect time to reflect on the past year (though it hasn’t ended just yet!), the new year, and most important, what you are thankful for.
I come from a line of women who don’t cook, so our Thanksgiving tradition is to find the best restaurant in town that’s open, with an unlimited amount of wine and brandy for my grandmother. Preparing for yet another year with white tablecloths, and a rude waiter who is sure to be pissed off about having to work on this special day of thanks, I realize how blessed I am. I have a family I love to spend the holidays with—not a blessing everyone has.
This year will be slightly different from the rest, however, as I will be taking my honey along with me to meet the family. Don’t worry, ladies, I’ve completely prepped him for meeting the “independent women” of my family, better known as a walking Tyler Perry movie. Compliment this one , check; avoid these topics, check; are we living together?, umm, check, and so forth.
As we fast approach 2020, here are twenty things I am most grateful for:
1 ** My children, who are now old enough to clean their own rooms and make their breakfast on Saturdays while I sleep in until 9.
2** Being in a family that requires minimal cooking skills. My job this year is to bring the cake for my little cousin’s birthday, falling on Thanksgiving this year.
3** Conversations and wine over Thanksgiving dinner. Topics may get a little heated but in the end it’s out of love.
4** My Creative Loves, who have supported me from day one through all my unfiltered moments and changes.
5** Being able to dress casually on turkey day, because this will hide the evidence that I ate way more dessert than turkey.
6** Road trips with my children, who by the time we get to the highway I’m ready to turn around and have two glasses of wine so I can get through said road trip. I never knew human beings could annoy each other so badly.
7** Pumpkin spice donuts that only come out for the holiday season.
8** Friends who are able to stand me for longer than five minutes.
9** Sex and the City. I’ve been binge-watching it again, secretly hoping for Carrie and Big to get back together (as if I haven’t seen it ten times and don’t know the ending).
10** Journaling, which allows me to put my insane ideas down on paper.
11** Music to express myself through lyrics.
12** My love, who reminds me every day that God did make someone for everyone. Thanks for loving me through my fairy tales, hippy moments, and “Let me sit down for this one.”
13** My BFF wifey, who, though we may not speak every day, would drop her world to come save mine.
14** My ride-or-die, my ace, my day one: we’ve been rocky but you now through thick and thin I love you to the moon and back.
15** My iPhone, the only person thing that can keep up with me at any given moment. I can be on a conference call, sending emails, posting on social media, blogging, texting my children, and updating my calendar all at the same time.
16** Pancakes.
17** Champagne to celebrate all the wins in life. Or for absolutely no reason at all and you just want to toast to umm . . . Mondays!
18** Life. We only get one, so let’s make the most out of it.
19** A career that lets me achieve a work-life balance.
20** And finally . . . coffee!!! Duh!!! You know I couldn’t leave my most important lifeline off the list.
Happy Thanksgiving!
What are you most grateful for this year?