Some Much Needed Thanks Redux

Once again my favorite holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving, to me, is the most special of holidays. Aside from Pilgrims, Indians and turkey, I think the holiday represents something we should all celebrate as often as we can. No matter what problems we face in our lives, there's always something to be thankful for.

I recently posted a status on my Facebook account that I'd like to share here. It's something I feel every day, but don't often share with the people in my life:

"Right about now I'm feeling very fortunate. To all the people in my life who've touched me in some way, any way, I want to say thank you...and to those of you whose lives I've touched in any type of meaningful way; again I give thanks to you for allowing me to do so!"

The post received several responses, each of them sending a little love back in my direction. To me, the warmth that comes from such mutual appreciation is so much better than any physical gift I could ever receive. I am thankful for the people in my life, for many different reasons, and I want to acknowledge some of them here in the spirit of the season.

I am ever thankful for my family, the ones who are with me now and the ones I have lost.

As many of you know, some very special people in my family have passed in recent years, namely my dad, my grandfather, and my dear Aunt Vi. These three, along with others who are long since gone, have all been integral parts of my life and each has left their own unique imprint on my life that's helped to shape me into the person I am today. I am grateful for whatever time I had with them and their spirits will live on within me for the rest of my days.

With the death of my dad, my family has shrunk to its lowest number in years. These days my family consists of only my siblings, my nephews and mom. Our extended family has spread far and wide and so all we really have is each other to get by. I am thankful for a place that I can always call home, and a place where unconditional love never wavers.

I am thankful for all of the people in my life that I've had the good fortune to call my friends.

Friends come in many varieties and I cherish each and every person who I've ever had the privilege to share good moments with. Childhood friends, coworkers, those who've just passed through my life in one way or another, there are many people who have come and gone in my life and I am thankful for the moments we've shared together. I believe that we all cross paths for a reason and that is to enrich each other's lives in some way. To each and every friend I've ever shared treasured moments with, I am forever grateful.

As a writer for Associated Content from Yahoo, I can also say that I'm privileged to have come to know many fellow writers with whom I've shared a personal kinship. People like Abby Greenhill, Becky Whittemore, Nancy Canfield, Maria Roth, Michele Starkey, Jennifer Wagner, Jack Aiello, Lori Lane, Dan Reveal, Sherri Thornhill and many others have all enriched my life with their compassion and their words. I am indeed fortunate to know all of you.

Finally, I have a special reason to be thankful this year. After three long years of loneliness and insecurity, I've finally met someone who has brightened my days and given me reason to believe again. Though it's way too soon to tell how things will work out, I'm feeling happier than I've been in a long time and to that person I say thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Please take a look at Some Much Needed Thanks.