Every Thanksgiving, my family writes down what we’re grateful for in our little Thanksgiving journal. This year, I thought I’d make my page a little more public and share what I’m grateful for on my blog. I’m writing about 5 things I’m grateful for this year, in no particular order and sharing photos from last year’s Thanksgiving.
My Privilege: Over the past few years, I’ve learned what privilege really means, and along the way, I’ve realized just how much of it I have. While it is very important to be aware of the privilege you have and use it to help those without, I think it’s also important to be grateful for it. I owe so much of my success and ease of life to my many privileges, and for that, I am grateful.
Facebook: What a cliche millennial thing to be grateful for, right? Let me explain. Facebook has not only allowed me to keep in touch with friends and family that I moved far away from, it helps me stay up to date with current events, have intellectual discussions, and broaden my worldview, it has been a key networking tool as I become a small business owner in a new place, and it has provided me with a support group as I continue my journey into adulthood. Facebook has gotten me gigs and jobs, it has helped my business grow and it has helped me grow with it.
My Girlfriend: Morgan and I have been together for 4 years, but this past year has been a true test. It’s the first year we’ve officially lived together, had to figure out finances together, been away from our friends and family together, and the first year of my business. She has been incredibly supportive of it all. And despite my lack of kitchen cleaning, living together has been pretty amazing.
My Family: It’s not easy to find a family that will be supportive of two freelance artists from across the country, but my brother and I just ended up with one. Our parents, and the rest of our family, have always encouraged us to pursue our dreams, rather than a paycheck. But they also taught us how to be smart about it, so that we wouldn’t have to live in their basement. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that! If I lived in Chicago, that’s probably where I’d be.)
My Brother: My brother has always been a bit of a nomad. When we go to coffee shops together to have a work day, he can’t stay in the same place for more than a couple hours. I’m not sure he’s lived anywhere for more than a year post-college. Being this far away from home isn’t easy, and I’m so glad that I have him nearby, at least for now.
What are you grateful for? Tell me below, in the comments!
Every day is a story. I would love to help you share yours and document all of life’s little moments. Find out more about Storytelling sessions and tell me your story at [email protected].
I’m grateful for my talented, blog-writing daughter, her achievements and her positive outlook. Couldn’t ask for more.