Happy Thankful Day

I try to be thankful each and every day...I am a very blessed girl...so here are 27 (albeit some are slightly ridic) thinks that make me say "thanks"!

27 things I am thankful for:

• My brilliant parents- I talk to my mother multiples times a day. She is one of my favorite people of all time. She is caring, compassionate, open-minded, loving, honest, and still cares where I am and what I am doing. My father gave up a lot so my brother and I could get a good education and play our sports…he missed a lot of me growing up but because of him I got an amazing education. He is not easily angered, he drinks beers with Bradley and I, and he encourages me to find exactly what is I want to do. I am thankful that at least twice they had sex and produced my brother and I.

• My brother- sometimes I don’t have nice feelings toward my brother…he knows how to push all my buttons and he infuriates me at times. But he is still the coolest kid I know. He has done some incredible things with his life….gone to Mexico for a whole summer to learn Spanish, run countless marathons and half marathons, he owned a house by the time he was 23, he went to Guatemala and built homes with Habitat, he has seen Pearl Jam over 8 times live, and he surfs/snowboards/and skate boards…and when I say he does this I mean he is actually good at all of it. He also encourages me to take stock of my life, figure out what I want and go for it…he means the worlds to me.

• My extended family- though I do have some first cousins I have never met and I am not so close to my dad’s side of the family…I love them all to pieces. I love my grandmother and her German accent and how she bakes and knits. I love my aunt (my mom’s sister) because she tells the same stories over and over and I find that endearing. I love my Uncle because he is so giving, generous, and devoted to his family. I adore my little cousins because they are becoming these little people who can make up their mind on issues. My biggest little cousin tells me everything…even things I don’t want to know…my middle little cousin talks to me about boys, fashion and once after telling her about Dustin she said , “I need one of those…I need a gay friend”….I love my little godson with all my heart, he is just this brilliant light that shines in my life and he has just started texting me from his moms phone and he always has a P.S. to his texts messages…I wish I could see them more.

• Colorado- Colorado got me out of Arizona where I would have for sure been stuck…in the same town, with the same people, probably dating the same boy. The music scene is wonderful, the hiking/snowboarding is unmatched, where I live is so bohemian and wonderful, the entire sporting event scene is ridiculous, The University of Colorado is beautiful and I love Boulder, my parents are here, it has liberals, democrats, and brilliant open-minded people, amazing beer, and I have met some of the most amazing people.

• Arizona-I don’t think I would have liked the person I would have grown up to be if I stayed in North Carolina. Arizona has heat, amazing rain, beautiful mountains, incredible summers with pools, amazing people, non-profits that rock my socks off, and The University to Arizona.

• My Angels- I have had a number of people close to me die. And I believe they are all up there, playing together, laughing at me trying to figure out my life, cringing when I make mistakes, and protecting me.

• Music- I listen to music probably 18 hours a day. I love some pieces of music so much it hurts, I love some bands so much I am in debt from it, and I love MY KIND of music. I am snotty about what I think is good and what I think is trash. I am happiest when I am at a good show with one close friend, I am happiest when a band moves my soul and touches my spirit.

• My girlfriends- since 23 I have accumulated and kept the best girl friends anybody could ask for. Janet was with me all through college and now, Tiffany has quickly become my best friend in Denver, Anna was such a breath of fresh air, Ali was my go person for so long when she lived here…. I could go on and I but I finally have girl friends who aren’t nasty, stuck up, up tight, high strung, snotty bitches…they are actually real, grounded, classy, opinionated but well informed, beautiful, graceful, caring, amazing women who make my days better.

• Dustin- it would be an injustice to not give Dustin a category all to himself. I don’t know what I would do without him. Since I met he has kept me laugh and kept me out of my darkest places. This boy loves me more than I deserve and means more to me than I can put into words. I mean the kid can sign Poker Face and Bad Romance…who wouldn’t be grateful for that. I would marry Dustin tomorrow…and it’s not that I am attracted to him (D- you know you aren’t my style) but because nobody will ever love me as much or treat me as well as Dustin does.

• My education- I was lucky enough to go to private school until college. I value my education and what I learned at all my schools. I love my college, I love my degree, I love my middle school ( I learned so much there), and I love my school in Charlotte. Education is so very important me to...

• Open minds- this has become increasingly more and more important to me as I have been discovering a lot more about who I am, who I want to be, and where my place is in this world. Ignorant, arrogant, and judgment have no place in my life or my heart.

• SAVETHE WORLD mentality- Someone recently told me I am a “SAVETHEWORLD” kind of person…I am choosing to take this as a compliment. My brother volunteers, Dustin interprets for people suffering from AIDS, Jenny ran for the women in the Congo, my mother helps at the local food bank, Tiffany and her fiancé volunteer randomly throughout the year…I like that I have people in my life that want to Save The World too…and for that I am thankful.

• Cheese- yep, super thankful for this delicious treat.

• Kicks- I am grateful for really amazing shoes. I have a shopping problem as many people know, but amazing sneakers are stellar…nike, converse, vans, new balance, saucony….”nothing compares to a fresh newbie white pair. “-Nelly

• Boys- I have been have been hurt and fucked over…but I still love me some guys. I have so many crushes…my #1 for years has been Leonardo DiCaprio…and wont de-throned…talk about a SAVETHEWORLD guy. I have real life crushes, celebrity crushes…but most I just thing guys are awesome. They love sports, music, riding, beer, they give the best hugs…..and if they aren’t prettier than me…..we will be just fine.

• Snail Mail- I think the art of sending letters and cards has been lost due to emails, text messaging, and facebook. I get so excited when I receive a post card, letter, or card in the mail. I am very grateful that my friends are good at doing this!

• Being a girl- I love make-up, fashion ( though it’s surfer and not high), bikinis, shoes, long hair, shaving, lip gloss, boobs, proving people wrong, the right to choose, chic lit, sports bras, tube socks, chonis, smelling good, and pretty much just being wonderful.

• Water- In Tucson we had our own well and the water was FAB. In Denver I am scared of the water from my apartment so I refill gallons weekly. I am in love Smart Water…. it really is the best bottled water ever.

• Sleeping pills and anti-depressants- Lunesta, Rozerem, Ambien, Temazepam and Trazodone…all sleeping pills my insomnia has required and most of which didn’t work after awhile…but all of which at one point helped me sleep. Though it’s been five years since I was on anti-depressants I have to be thankful for them because they saved my life a few times…and Dustin and I bonded over are mutual love for Lexapro.

• Books- I like books period. I could never own a Kindle because I like physically having a book in my hand. I like turning the pages, I love devouring every word and learning. I love getting lost in a book about vampires or ridiculous love; I love stories of adventure and life changing experiences.

• Animals- I have been lucky enough to grow up with cats and dogs and I love them dearly. I have been lucky enough, I think, to have realized how horrible animals are treated before they are murdered (often in inhuman ways) and to have stopped eating meat. I truly believe since I personally would never kill an animal for food, I shouldn’t eat one. My brother has the coolest dogs ever (working on a plan to steal Maverick), I am practically in love with my parent’s dog Aurora, and my kittens Toby and TeeJay are phenomenal.

• Beds-I just like being in bed….maybe its cause of my back….but make it chilly and give me a good blanket…and I am so happy to cuddle up and close my eyes.

• Non-profits- Oxfam, Save Darfur, Ben’s Bells, Calling All Crows, Surfrider, The Parsgehian Foundation, food banks, Amnesty International, Teach for America….I am thankful there are people who care enough about specific “things” that they set up foundations…find funding, volunteers, projects….I am so thankful for these people and the people that care enough to volunteer and be a part of them.

• My faith- though I am constantly questioning what exactly I believe in and how it fits into how I live my life…I know I believe in God, I know he loves me, I know he doesn’t judge….I know I believe in the BVM and saints….and without my faith some situations in my life would have been so much more extreme….so in like all good relationships, the Catholic faith and I are going to have to agree to disagree on a few point. “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.”Gandhi.

• Sunshine- it is my life force. I love sunny weather, I love being tan, I love heat ( yes I know that just because it is sunny doesn’t mean it is warm!), I love the way it makes plants grown, and I like how so many people smile and giggle when they are in it.

• My health- so much crap has happened to me in the past 4 year…blood clot, ulcer, car accident…but I am so thankful everyday that I am not seriously ill or sick. I value my health so much more because I can’t work out, I am not allowed, and I get upset when people who can just smoke and drink….don’t ya want to live every minute of this crazy life you can?

• I am thankful for life. I am thankful I can be who I want to be. I am thankful for who I have become and for learning lessons at a young age. I am thankful for apologies, second chance, not being used, respect, hugs, holding hands, skipping, nail polish, LOVES, MKN, itunes, tube socks, cupcakes, fans/white noise, kindness, sweetness, laughter, young people, old people, credit cards, my job, my guy friends, non-date dates, lists, plans, being ok being alone, knowing I can never be happy with another till I am happy with myself, karma, hair dye, wax, kisses, understanding, change, follow throughs, quotes, crafts, heart hands, crows, sacrifices, mistakes, realizations…I am thankful every day I get to live life and breathe in and out with the knowledge that there is so much more than this.