I am Thankful

It is that time of year again; it is time for my Thanksgiving post.   I see the posts on Facebook with people breaking down what they are thankful for day by day, but that doesn’t work for me.  So I will do it my way.

I looked at my 30 days of thanksgiving from last year, and everything on that list I am still thankful.   If I were to do a new list, it would be essentially the same with the addition of my friend Chris and my new friend, Lizzy.  But I don’t want to do a list.  Actually, I am going to step outside of the box and do things a little differently this year.

I am thankful for me. Conceited much?

In all seriousness, I feel like this has been the year that I have really accepted who I am and everything that entails. I love this quote.

“Nothing of me is original.  I am the combined effort of everybody I’ve ever known.” Chuck Palahniuk

When I think about particular aspects in my life, I can directly relate that to a person that I know or have known.   For instance, my love of knitting, directly related to Jill, the person who taught me to knit.   My ability to make homemade biscuits, that came from watching my dad make biscuits every morning.  Me being the colorguard captain in high school reminds me of Melissa, my colorguard captain that I thought was so cool, still do.  My adventure into green smoothies is linked to Lizzy who first introduced them to me.   My love for big cities was imparted on me by Dr. Jordan.  My interest in marine insurance was stirred by an underwriter named Brett.  I think my sister inspired my desire to be a great cook.  I wish I could say that my loyalty is entirely my own, but I see so much of the same reflected in my mom.  If I have a sense of style, it is a direct inspiration of Megan, Kacee, and Holly.   I could go on and on with all the good things I have gleamed from people, but that is only half of it.

I have known some people in my life that haven’t been as great, and they have left parts of themselves with me as well.   I can be a jealous person, and I can become bitter about certain things.  I have been known to worry excessively. Certain people have left me with a feeling of insecurity and distrust.  I am afraid that these things can’t be avoided, have to take the good with the bad. 

You see?  I am not me at all.  I am a mix of everyone I have met. 

Our lives are filled with all kinds of people and experiences; some of the life changing, some of them pretty mundane.  But they all have a piece, however small, in the puzzle of our life.  Good news!  If you are reading this, your puzzle isn’t completed.  There are still pieces left to be added. 

I am thankful that our lives are fluid and ever-changing.  I am thankful for all the people whom I have met, and I thankful for the person that they made me.  I can honestly say, I wouldn’t be the person I am without you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Friends.