What are YOU grateful for?

[pap64]

Every year at Thanksgiving I always take the time to look at what I have and see what I should be thankful for. I know that you should always be grateful, but I always use this opportunity to reflect on my life.

So I ask the lot of you, what are YOU grateful for?

I confess that 2009 hasn't been a stellar year for me. Sure it started with a lot of promise, but at it approaches its end I am left unfulfilled and depressed. But despite this, I am grateful that I was given the chance to live another year. Despite how bad things get or are, I always find something to enjoy and be grateful for.

I am grateful for the friends I have in real life and on the internet. In my teen years, I was a bit of an antic-social kid. I barely had any friends, and felt better alone than with company. Now as an adult I can't get enough of my friends. Sure, I still have my moments where I rather be left alone, and frankly they can also be hurtful. But in recent years, I've grown to become a better person thanks to friendship.

My best in New Hampshire, Jesse, is just one of them. This might sound corny, but he was one of the few who made me feel like I am worth something outside of my parents. He is rough around the edges, and he has annoyed me just as I have annoyed him. But he made me realize many things about life, about hard work and sacrifice.

The rest of my American friends have also contributed to my growth. Sure, they aren't perfect, but they made me grow beyond my Puertorican roots. Living with them for so many years, I realize that the only obstacles we have are language and culture. Deep down, we are people who desire to do grand things, that live life and strive on doing a difference. They have created a deep love in me for people, and fueled my desire to see the world and be friends with people of other cultures, to prove that we can live together in harmony.

Finally, I am grateful for my family. I admit that at times they drive me crazy, and hate it when they start to whine about stuff and they break up over trivial things. But the truth is that without them I wouldn't be the kind of person I am today. I wouldn't have learned to be patient with others, to love and respect and to work hard for your dreams. I love my parents, even if they have hurt me deeply in the past and we don't share the same views. I love my sister and her family. I personally don't like how she does things, but she is the mother of my nephew and niece, two people I care about deeply and would do anything to make them happy.

So that's how I feel. What are YOU most grateful for?

[blackcauldron85]

I'm grateful for my health and the health of my family and my dogs. I'm grateful that I'm provided for since I don't have a job. I'm grateful that I'm able to volunteer on Thanksgiving.

[UmbrellaFish]

I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

My family is as dysfunctional as ever, and nothing is perfect in that respect, but I'm dealing, and I cherish most of my family very much.

For the first time in my life I've gotten real friends. I mean, I've never exactly been a loner, but nor have I ever been the "social butterfly". This year of school has been a complete and utter blast for me, and I can't wait for it to continue. I've still not completely come out of my shell, but I have this tremendous self-confidence I've never ever felt before. I hope it lasts.

I've found all kinds of different interests and I think I've grown a lot over the year. I'm eager to learn more, to do more, to get better and better, and with the way I've been blessed it seems I'll be capable to.

I feel like I should list more things- but to be honest I haven't had such a happy holiday as this one in a few years. Life is just going in the right direction right now, and I'm so grateful for that.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

[ajmrowland]

I'm grateful for my physical health, my cats, my dog, sometimes even my parents, and my general family, and my friends at church and at school.

[Jack Skellington]

Mom, my sister, getting into my ideal university, living away from home , my scholarship, and the endless opportunities that are out there waiting for me to discover them.

[Elladorine]

Unfortunately Thanksgiving is not exactly my favorite time of year (bad memories and missing family) but it gets better over time. And I do know I have a lot to be thankful for at least, with even more things to be thankful for as the years pass . . .

I'm thankful that my health is getting better. While I've been working hard to eat healthier and do other stuff that's good for me, my immune system has certainly gotten better along with my efforts . . . I think it was pretty shot for a few years over stress and such. Plus I'm finally gaining an understanding of a problem I didn't quite know I always had, agoraphobia; learning how to deal with it has made an enormous difference in my day-to-day existence.

I'm thankful that I have a new family to celebrate the holidays with, and even the more mundane motions of every day life. I'm in a nice, comfortable home, and get to spend every day with someone I love. I'm especially grateful for that since we had to spend so much time thousands of miles apart.

But yeah . . . I'm happier this year than I have been in a long time, and that's certainly something to be thankful for.

[jlppr]

i'm thankful for my family and best friend. i don't have many friends (not everyone can be a friend) but for that one that i do have i am very grateful. i love my family as well. don't know what i would do without my family and best friend they've been there through the toughest parts of my life. i may be young but i have gone through financial, and emotional problems as well as cancer but these people were there when i needed them most. without them my life wouldn't be the same. and above all i am thankful for having God in my life. i love him even more.

[Escapay]

I'm grateful that Marney is not in my family...

• From: Marney
  
  As you all know a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner does not make itself. I need to ask each of you to help by bringing something to complete the meal. I truly appreciate your offers to assist with the meal preparation.
  
  Now, while I do have quite a sense of humor and joke around all the time, I COULD NOT BE MORE SERIOUS when I am providing you with your Thanksgiving instructions and orders. I am very particular, so please perform your task EXACTLY as I have requested and read your portion very carefully. If I ask you to bring your offering in a container that has a lid, bring your offering in a container WITH A LID, NOT ALUMINUM FOIL! If I ask you to bring a serving spoon for your dish, BRING A SERVING SPOON, NOT A SOUP SPOON! And please do not forget anything.
  
  All food that is to be cooked should already be prepared, bring it hot and ready to serve, warm or room temp. These are your ONLY THREE options. Anything meant to be served cold should, of course, already be cold.
  
  HJB—Dinner wine
  
  The Mike Byron Family
  1. Turnips in a casserole with a lid and a serving spoon. Please do not fill the casserole all the way up to the top, it gets too messy. I know this may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but most of us hate turnips so don’t feel like you a have to feed an army.
  2. Two half gallons of ice cream, one must be VANILLA, I don’t care what the other one is. No store brands please. I did see an ad this morning for Hagan Daz Peppermint Bark Ice Cream, yum!! (no pressure here, though).
  3. Toppings for the ice cream.
  4. A case of bottled water, NOT gallons, any brand is ok.
  
  The Bob Byron Family
  1. Green beans or asparagus (not both) in a casserole with a lid and a serving spoon. If you are making the green beans, please prepare FOUR pounds, if you are making asparagus please prepare FIVE pounds. It is up to you how you wish to prepare them, no soupy sauces, no cheese (you know how Mike is), a light sprinkling of toasted nuts, or pancetta, or some EVOO would be a nice way to jazz them up.
  2. A case of beer of your choice (I have Coors Light and Corona) or a bottle of clos du bois chardonnay (you will have to let me know which you will bring prior to 11/22).
  
  The Lisa Byron Chesterford Family
  1. Lisa as a married woman you are now required to contribute at the adult level. You can bring an hors d’ouvres. A few helpful hints/suggestions. Keep it very light, and non-filling, NO COCKTAIL SAUCE, no beans of any kind. I think your best bet would be a platter of fresh veggies and dip. Not a huge platter mind you (i.e., not the plastic platter from the supermarket).
  
  The Michelle Bobble Family
  1. Stuffing in a casserole with a serving spoon. Please make the stuffing sans meat.
  2. 2.5-3 qts. of mashed squash in a casserole with a lid and serving spoon
  3. Proscuitto pin wheel – please stick to the recipe, no need to bring a plate.
  4. A pie knife
  
  The June Davis Family
  1. 15 LBS of mashed potatoes in a casserole with a serving spoon. Please do not use the over-size blue serving dish you used last year. Because you are making such a large batch you can do one of two things: put half the mash in a regulation size casserole with lid and put the other half in a plastic container and we can just replenish with that or use two regulation size casserole dishes with lids. Only one serving spoon is needed.
  2. A bottle of clos du bois chardonnay
  
  The Amy Misto Family (why do I even bother she will never read this)
  1. A pumpkin pie in a pie dish (please use my silver palate recipe) no knife needed.
  2. An apple pie in a pie dish, you can use your own recipe, no knife needed.
  
  Looking forward to the 28th!!
  
  Marney

albert

[tsom]

Very thankful for my family, best friends, and all the great & wonderful opportunities I've been bestowed with or witnessed this past year.

[PixarFan2006]

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! I am grateful for my family and my few friedns (whom I rarely see anymore). I am also thankful for having been employed since 2008.

[ajmrowland]

Speaking of Dinner Wine, I actually had my first today. Clearly an acquired taste.

[Lazario]

The fact that the jerks who hate me, not including anyone here I think I can safely say, hate me so much that I'll probably never be mistaken for whatever they are.

But seriously - stuffing yourself is insanely overrated. Give your leftovers to poor people! In fact, give half your food to poor people! Do volunteer work.

Be insane too. We can all spare a little of that.

[PeterPanfan]

I am thankful for:

Family & Friends - Both my family and friends are always the people I look up to the most. No matter how irritating or annoying they can be, they will always be the most important people in my life.

Health - I've never had serious health problems, and I hope I don't for the rest of my life.

Pets - Yes, I am thankful for animals. My pets are always there for me, no matter what. They don't always get the amount of appreciation they deserve, but they seriously will do anything for me.