Thankful (a little personal today)

It's been a really tough year, but it's also made me realize how much I have to be thankful for.

I'm thankful that my mom got to spend her last Thanksgiving on Earth with me last year.  She had never been to one of my celebrations before, since the rest of the family is back East, but she had, by some stroke of luck, decided to spend it with me in 2012.  She died unexpectedly just two months later.  I am so thankful for the time I got with her.

I'm thankful for my new studio.  I had been wanting to open a place of my own for quite some time now, and did not think it would happen this year.  But circumstances pushed me into making that decision much sooner than I'd thought, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I'd ever made.  It's scary, financially, but it's worth every penny.

I'm thankful for my amazing clients.  I am so lucky to get to do what I love and to have such awesome people I get to work with every day.  I would not be where I am without their support, and they make me love my job exponentially more. 

I am thankful for my fingertips, which grew back after my accident earlier this year despite all predictions.  I'm also thankful for all my other body parts, which I intend to keep firmly attached and in full working order for all time, thank you very much.

I'm thankful for Dave, who has been there for me 80,000% through everything I've gone through in the last year and a half, good and bad.  I am the luckiest woman in the world to have him in my life.

I'm thankful for my amazing friends, like Devjani, Wendy, Ann Marie, Lisa, Robyn, Michele, Jabina, and so many others who I did not name, who have stood by me for all the good and bad throughout the years (and, in some cases, throughout the decades!).  I define family as the people you choose to be yours rather than what blood dictates.  And these people are, without a doubt, family. 

And, of course, I am really thankful for my family-- my brothers, my sister, my niece and nephews,  my aunt and cousins.  I have a pretty fantastic blood family, too.  :)

I am thankful for my furkids, who I love so much it's ridiculous.

I am thankful for being able to perform music I love with awesome and talented people.  I am really lucky to be able to utilize both my biggest passions (fitness and performing music) in my everyday life!

I am thankful for my excellent health, the fact that I am able to have such healthy, high quality food and water at my disposal, for shelter and reliable transportation, and for all the comforts of life I probably take for granted most of the time.

I am really thankful for everything in my life, good and bad.  It's made me who I am, and I'm proud of who I am.  I am beyond lucky for everything I have and everyone I know.  Life is precious and beautiful, and it's so important to look around every once in a while and realize how fortunate we really are. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.