Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone! I was sans internet/phone for the past week, and let me tell you: It was amazing. I think it's good for the soul to completely unplug every once in a while. We get so wrapped up in answering emails right away, text messages can't wait, and God forbid we don't check in on Foursquare or do a mobile upload. Don't get me wrong, those things keep me connected to my friends in a way other generations can't wrap their heads around, but it is nice to fall off the grid for a while. So, to get back into the swing of things here are the top ten things I am thankful for, and none of them will be technology related.
1. Family - Enough said.
2. Friends - The family you get to choose.
3. Health - You know when you have had the flu for three days and you wake up one morning and realize, "I'm going to live through this!" That feeling makes me so thankful for my health.
4. Books - I love this John Waters documentary where he advises the audience not to date (well, he uses a different word I will abstain from) people unless they see books at the person's house. I could not agree with this more. Prop coffee table books do not count.
5. The Library - To piggyback on #4, this is where you get said books for free.
6. My Book Club - To further piggyback on #4 and #5, it is so nice to get together with a group of friends and talk intelligently about something other than who was wasted on Saturday night, what is going on with Mad Men or other jibber jabber. If you aren't in one, start one. It's a great excuse to meet a group of friends for dinner and a glass of vino on a school night.
7. Food - I love to eat. Love it. It is so enjoyable whether I am eating at a fancy new place, a hole in the wall, cooking at home, hell even going to the grocery store. This is the one place I don't feel too naughty about spending money.
8. Mail - I love getting and sending cards in the mail. I have totally picked this up from my mother. At least twice a month since I started college I have been getting little notes from her in the mail. They are amazing, and in this day of email the letter-writers of the world are the real rebels. Eventually the 'slow food' movement will turn a tangent to the 'slow communication' movement.
9. Hot Water - This year when we went around the table to say what we are thankful for, my friend's 7-year-old son said he was thankful for hot water when he takes a shower. Very practical choice. As someone who experiences icy cold showers a handful of mornings each year in the tenement, I could not agree with him more.
10. Having a Job - Those of us who have eeked out of the recession and have managed to hang on to our jobs are so lucky. Even though some had awesome severance packages, most did not. I think one of the greatest gifts is getting up in the morning, having a reason to get dressed, and knowing someone is depending on you to show up.
What are you most thankful for this Holiday Season?
