100 Things I Am Thankful for This Thanksgiving

If for some reason you're having a difficult time thinking about what to be thankful for this year, let me give you my 100-reasons list, and this is just stuff off the top of my head. These are in no particular order by the way...

1. A wife who loves me

2. A joyful, healthy baby boy

3. A job that I can actually tolerate

4. A house with working heat and air conditioning

5. The ability to cook for me and my family

6. Televisions with converter boxes (I'll get cable again soon)

7. Our family has two cars to travel in

8. We have clothes to wear and food to eat

9. 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 arms, 2 legs, etc.

10. A comfortable bed to sleep in

11. The ability to travel

12. Good and bad experiences

13. Ability and desire to believe in God

14. Friends, near and far

15. Technology such as Facebook and Twitter

16. The ability to be creative in many ways

17. A great imagination

18. A vision to do better

19. Netflix so I can catch up on old movies

20. Bottled water that I can transport with me

21. A guy from my church who cuts my grass for me (thanks Dan!)

22. Being able to pay my bills on time

23. Having great co-workers and a great supervisor

24. A sense of humor

25. A sexy wife who is also my girlfriend

26. Seinfeld reruns

27. Cosby Show reruns

28. A finished basement in my house

29. Bathrooms IN the house (no outhouses!)

30. No accidents this year, no injuries this year, no family deaths this year

31. I haven't been to one funeral this year

32. A city as cool as Chicago to live in

33. Deodorant

34. Hot and cold water

35. A baby who sleeps all night now

36. The Internet

37. The ability to listen to people

38. Hair that's still all black... no bald spots or patches

39. A rocking chair I found for $20 that's in great condition

40. Thrift stores that sell name brand items "gently used"

41. Gas that is under $3.00 again

42. That I have influence with people

43. That I can think strategically

44. That I have the ability to negotiate

45. Having no school loans

46. My grandmother is still alive (she was born before the Stock Market Crash to give some indication of age)

47. My grandmother still able to get around and do whatever she needs to do without assistance

48. My wife not dealing with typical pregnancy issues - morning sickness, etc.

49. In-laws that treat me like family

50. People who are generous and free-hearted

51. Pizza

52. Nachos

53. A barbecue grill

54. People who love to cook and cook well

55. Great memories

56. To have been able to see our nation's first Black president

57. To possibly see my city get the bid for the Olympics in 2016

58. To have seen Paris in my lifetime

59. To have seen Mexico in my lifetime

60. To have seen Canada in my lifetime

61. To not be afraid of flying

62. That I don't have to deal with the hair issues that women deal with

63. That I have an appreciation for art

64. That I have a relationship with God

65. That I'm able to forgive quickly

66. That I don't get offended easily

67. The ability to check email on my cell phone

68. Stress-free living

69. The ability to smell great candles and good food

70. 20/20 vision as an adult... no glasses or contact lenses needed

71. A city with public transportation

72. Clothes for my son through the age of 3 already

73. Chips & Salsa

74. Chipotle (the Mexican fast-food place)

75. Jerk chicken done right

76. Those conversations that have opened my eyes to new things

77. Breath mints

78. A style all my own

79. Life

80. The ability to teach others

81. Lotion

82. Soap

83. The ability to read and write

84. The ability to balance my own checkbook and do my own accounting

85. Not being in jail right now

86. Having easy access to people

87. The TV show 24

88. An eye for design and style

89. Our ability to have children

90. Pockets (a salad fast-food place)

91. Those whom God has put in government

92. The ability to vote

93. The ability to worship freely

94. The Bible

95. Grace & Mercy

96. I'm not in a hospital

97. I have a computer with internet capabilities

98. Those who report the news everyday

99. Those who fight for our country

100. The values imparted and sacrifices my mom made before she died