I AM THANKFUL FOR…

1. My house. The fact I actually have one.
2. Being alive, I guess.
3. How much I’ve learned over the past year. I am still me, and more me than I was, but in a lot of ways so much different, too. I feel more comfortable in my own skin. I’ve thought about a million things and feel like I’ve grown, and that I am better now than I was, though never perfect.
4. Inspiration!
5. My crazy brain, even if I whine about it a lot
6. Getting thinner (I know, shallow)
7. The lovely music, movies, and books that have made my life more beautiful
8. Deep thoughts — profundity (cheesy, haha)
9. My piano!! And my ability to play
10. Writing — and my feature on dA!
11. My time in the band at church, short though it was
12. Everything beautiful and amazing and inspiring and enlightening that there is in the world!!
13. The fact that I seriously just wrote that
14. How happy I am right now
15. The fact that I actually have the ability to be happy these days!!!
16. Good memories
17. The fact that I probably have a while more to be alive
18. My fabulous autographed shoes haha
19. Learning to be OK with how I look
20. Repossess! (good memory)
21. Just wrote twenty things — and I haven’t even gotten to people yet
22. Bethany – OF course. For being my bestest friend in the whole world, for understanding everything, for all our epic silliness at 3 AM – for making me laugh all the time, for having an adorable smile and for writing me a poem and making my fricken’ day! Love you!!!
23. Tabitha – for being the cutest person ever and the most unique individual I’ve ever met. For being kind and open-minded, for being a great listener and for being generally ingenious. I love youuuuuu! And of course for making me crack up every five seconds.
24. Danette – for being the other cutest person ever – for your beautiful smile, for making me laugh every day, for being an awesome new friend who understands everything! For making it so hard to be in a bad mood. Love you, Dani! Oh yeah, and for being accepting and non-judgmental, and making it easy to just be me.
25. Anna – for being another adorable new friend. I don’t know you very well but you are awesome! Love ya!
26. Mo – for being sweet and adorable and having the cutest smile in the world! For being a real friend, for helping me be more comfortable as myself, for talking to me about stuff, and for showing me I DON’T have to be perfect to be loved. For being strangely inspiring, for telling me I’m pretty even when I don’t believe you – for everything! Loves you, too!
27. Mat – for being brilliant and profound, yet still hilarious. For everything I’ve learned from you over the time we’ve been friends – for giving awesome hugs, and for talking with me about all that stuff. Love you!
28. Taylor – for the memories. For the person you used to be. I miss you, miss you, miss you!! – I still love you, and always will, no matter what I say.
29. Denise – for all our sad, happy, deep, and freaking hilarious memories! I love you soooo much. No matter WHAT you’ve done or will do. You don’t know it, but you’ve taught me about unconditional love. I miss you tons, girl. Loooooove you!!
30. Jillian – for being brilliant and a deep thinker – for making incredible breakfasts, lol, for our long chat in your van last summer, for unconciously teaching me about caring about others. Love ya!
31. Cheyenne – for all our memories. We had so much fun together, back in the day. I love you, sweetheart, and I miss you heaps.
32. Eric Savoie – haha! For being awesomely goofy and making me feel welcome at church for once in my life. For making me laugh and be able to relax, for making me feel like a friend instantly. I don’t know if a “Love you” would be appropriate, haha, but I’m thankful for you!
33. Andrew – for being super cute and hilarious! For being my best friend at times. For changing my life and making me a better person all those years ago. Love ya!
34. My dA friends – Emmie, Roberta (you understand EVERYTHING!), Chelsea – I wish you guys were here! Big virtual hug! lol
35. Dylan – for being supportive, for making me welcome, for encouraging me with my music. High five!
36. Jessica – the same! You are so sweet!
37. Jan – for being a great piano teacher, for sharing all you know with me, for being so encouraging and giving me all these opportunities.
38. Mrs. Price – for being the best teacher EVER! For believing in me, for making me laugh, for helping me with my art.
39. Becky – for all your wisdom, understanding, and patience always. For “getting it”. Love you!
40. Daniel Hunt – for being hilarious and passionate, for talking with me and sharing what you know. You are awesome!
41. Mommy – for being patient, for caring, for listening, for sticking with me, for always being willing to make up after a fight, for forgiving, for everything you do – love you!!
42. Dad – for being around, for working hard, for trying, for caring about me, for being willing to change, for supporting my music and the piano. Love you, too!
43. Derek – for being the coolest little brother EVER! For being nice to me, for being one of the funniest people I know, for talking, for being encouraging – Love ya, bro!
44. Grandma and Grandpa – for being awesome and hilarious. Grandma, for being like the sweetest and most optimistic person on the planet, for caring about us, for all the Christmases, haha, for making me smile today. Grandpa, for being super generous, for making us laugh a whole bunch, for helping buy my piano! Love you guys!!
45. God – yes, you – for still hanging around somewhere behind the scenes. For inspiring me, for teaching me so, so much, for keeping me guessing and wondering about you, for never quite disappearing, never quite leaving me alone. For our world. For beauty. For love. For inspiration. For all the lovely people I know. For meaning. For destiny. For purpose. For pointing the way to those things. For the search. For everything on this list, really, everything and everyone. For everything in general. For nature. For animals. For depth and profundity. For making me the way I am. For making me in the first place. For giving me a chance to live.