Thanksgiving.
One of the simplest, uncluttered holidays of the year. No gifts, no unnecessary greeting cards, nothing superficial. Just family and love. It’s easy.
I’m thankful for many things in my life, but this year, I’m especially thankful for two things: People and Opportunity.
I’m thankful for the people who have believed in me. The people who have given me a chance to be myself and share my life with them. The people who have opened their arms to me and welcomed me to be a part of their own life. The people who have joined me in my adventures and helped create them. And mostly the people who have always supported me, loved me, and encouraged me to be my best.
Throughout 8 years of friendship, I’ve had the privilege of finding my soul-mate in my best friend; a woman I trust with my entire world and respect with my whole heart. She’s my better half, my kick-in-the-pants, and my partner in crime.
In my travels between BC and Alberta, I found friends in the most amazing people. I’ve fallen in lust, created friendships that will last a lifetime, and I’ve met some of the most interesting people I’ve ever known. I found a forever friend in someone twice my age, a mentor and good friend in a woman who’s respected by many, and I’ve created great bonds with many people who I would have never met without the decisions I made to relocate myself.
People I’ve always known, new faces, and even random strangers have wiggled their way into my heart and found a special spot. I’m okay with this and I hope those certain people stay there; my heart will continue to grow as I hopefully meet more people who exude pure awesome-ness.
The people I am the most thankful for: my family. Through good, bad, tears and every smile – they’re always there, no questions asked. I love them, for loving me unconditionally. They don’t judge me and they stand behind me with encouragement as I continue to try new things and find the best ways to live my life. I’m far from perfect, but that doesn’t matter to them.
Over the past (almost) two years, I’ve been blessed with incredible opportunities to leave an impact on this world. I’m lucky enough to have a job that allows to me to write every day and be myself. I’m so grateful to have found ways to fuel my passion for writing; I’m so happy that I get to share it with the world. Through my previous blog, my work in radio copywriting, and my freelance work for The Province blog page – I have a chance to write what I want. I get to express myself and people actually read my work. (THAT is SO cool! I’m still in awe over that, all the freakin’ time!)
The other day, I had a chance to hang out with the graduating class of the Broadcast Communications Radio program at BCIT. It was an extreme honour to be able to share my story and my insight on life after graduation and my experience in the industry. When I stop and think to myself that I only graduated a year ago, I’m totally shocked that they see me as someone worthy of offering advice. It was such a flattering experience and really opened my eyes as to how incredibly fortunate I am in my small successes thus far.
I’m thankful for so much in this life, but it’s the people and the life I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy in the past 19 months that has made me truly grateful to be… me.
Life isn’t perfect; it’s never going to be. So look at what you have, see the awesome in it and keep doing YOU.
Be thankful for what you’ve got, right now. Big or small – it’s gotta’ be something to smile about.