I am thankful for a great many things in this life. I am thankful that I’ve walked this world for nearly 14,000 nights. I am thankful for the web that allows me to reach out to friends long lost. I am thankful for friends (old and new) that I hold dear. I am thankful for Shadowrun, because it gave venue to my voice. I am thankful for having a voice at all. The more I move through life the more I am struck by those less fortunate than myself. What I have discovered, won, earned, fell into by luck, born into by luck–all of it is a gift.
I’m thankful for my cat. She deserves her own line here.
I’m less thankful for my dog. We noticed a spot of pee after the big rain and guessed that his usual fear of rain compelled him to pee on our rug. I pulled out the blacklight to inspect the damage and discovered it is far more extensive than I first imagined. Looking at a room under a blacklight after your dog has had his way with it is much like the TV version of walking into a murder scene. I felt like Dexter. I’m not thankful for that at all.
I’m thankful for the family that loves me and puts up with me. I’m a tough dude to deal with. I don’t have the heroic patience I once did as a twenty year old. Nor am I the person I intended to be when I developed that patience. Maybe I’m still trying to get there, maybe I’m trying to go another direction. One thing I know is that they’ve stuck by me. I’m definitely thankful for that.
I live for silver linings. I want to see the best in everything. It is my belief that everyone should. It is my belief that we should find something we are thankful for every day and even in the dark moments we should be able to seek out that sliver of light. Most of all, I’m thankful that I can still do that.