Thanksgiving Countdown

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’m sad I won’t be able to chow down on greasy Filipino food, that I won’t be able to welcome home my friends returning for the holiday. In lieu of Thanksgiving, I’ll be attending my friend Sam’s wedding and partying it up in South Africa. I guess I won’t miss Thanksgiving that much!

Before I leave in a few days, I want to thank you again for reading. It’s a joy to write for an audience.

Here’s my Thanksgiving reflection.

Having quit a job and having been laid off, I’m thankful I have a great job. I’m especially thankful to have ownership over products, to have people listen to me and respect me. I feel challenged and motivated to work hard. I work in an environment that fosters community and fun. The alarm buzzes and I honestly can’t wait to get to the office. I think about the “debriefs” with my friends, froyo in the afternoon, joking with the IT people while perched on their bean bag, and the happy hours that turn into happy nights, but yucky mornings. The only time I dread going to work is when I’m hungover. It’s not even that I dread it. I just want a few more hours of sleep, then I’m more than happy to go in. I spend the majority of my time working; I’m glad that it’s time I enjoy.

I’m thankful to live and work in the city of San Francisco. I live a block away from an express bus that zips me down to work in twenty minutes. I’m happy to be back home, to have my own home in the city—a place that’s all mine. I’m thankful my parents are a twenty-minute drive away, that my dad comes to my place and cleans for me, that my mom is a financial guru who has helped me manage my mortgage, student loans, and taxes so that I can sleep soundly. I couldn’t be any happier that my sister is starting a family. I’m thankful to be a part of a huge family of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and my two totally adorable nephews.

But most of all, I’m thankful for the following…

I’m thankful that when I need someone, I can always reach friends or family. Always.
I’m thankful that when I want to be alone, I can retreat home.
I’m thankful that when I pray, God is listening.
I’m thankful that twice in my life I’ve had relationships where I experienced unconditional love.
I’m so thankful to look in the mirror and no longer vow to lose more weight.
I’m thankful that I regret very few things in life.
I’m thankful to have lived in great cities, to have traveled all around the world, to have experienced so much surrounded by people I love.