Thankful

Today, I am thankful.

I am thankful for the open arms that receive me when I see my parents for the first time in a long time or after not seeing them for a few hours. My dad always makes an effort to grab a hold of me when I enter into a room. And while normally, I might wiggle away from him and complain that he is messing up my perfectly hairsprayed hair, today, I let him hold me. I sink into his big, broad arms and stay there. He is thankful for that I’m sure.

I am thankful for the way my sister tells me I’m beautiful. She says, “You look so thin, girl,” and actually notices when I spend a little more time than usual getting ready. My sister more than anyone in the world knows how sensitive I am. She knows my insecurities, and she knows how to alleviate them. While normally I might reject her compliments and instead point out a flaw I see within myself, today, I simply say “Thank you, that means a lot.” She is thankful for that.

I am thankful for the way my mom excessively prepares for family vacation. Even though we were far from home this Thanksgiving, she made sure she brought a suitcase full of Gobble Day necessities — turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, whipped cream … the works. While normally I criticize her for spending way too much money on an absurd amount of food we can’t possibly finish, today, I give her a big hug and tell her how much I appreciate her. She thanks me for that.

I am thankful for my Thanksgiving day church service and being able to spend it sitting wedged between the ones I love most. While normally I might put up a fight about getting up early to attend a  church service that I most certainly will fall asleep in, today, I am the first one ready to go. I am sitting attentively and open minded. I am thankful for that.

I am thankful to just be. Being alive is something to be grateful for in and of itself. While normally I might go through my day not recognizing the minuscule details that make life extraordinary, today I take in every little detail. I look up instead of down and admire the clear blue sky, I dig my feet in the sand and embrace its itchy texture, I watch as my dad looks my mom in the eyes and tells her he loves her more than anything in the world, and means it. I take each bite of food, realizing how lucky I am to have nourishment in abundance. And tonight as I get in bed to fall asleep, I delight in the peaceful silence, and in the comfort of knowing my family is in the next room. I pull my covers over my body and rejoice in the warmth that is surrounding me.

Today, I am thankful because there is so much to be thankful for.

**Note to readers: This piece was meant to run on Thanksgiving Day