Blogaday 24 - Thanksgiving.

It's Thanksgiving in the USA, not a holiday we Brits share but it's quite a nice holiday. It was Donna who pointed out that it's a holiday about being with friends and family and celebrating gratitude rather than it being about gift giving etc... Dani called it "Happy Count-your-blessings Day" on twitter too. Now I like the idea of a holiday like this. I'm not a big fan of holidays invented to sell cards and gifts but I would approve if one was invented over here to just give thanks. A nice feel good holiday with no gifts. It's unlikely to happen so I'm going to lig in on the American celebrations!

This year I am thankful for my family who are simply brilliant! My neice is growing up so fast that it's now quite scary, but she's a good kid and I'm proud of her. My mum and dad are and always have been strong, loyal and supportive. I am grateful for all the amazing adventures I was allowed as a kid, everything I got away with and all the things I didn't, all the stuff that let me grow up with sense of individuality, a head full wild nonsense and sense of joy and wonder that still prevails today. 

I am thankful for my friends. My close friends are amazing and I am so grateful to have them in my life. I'll spare blushes by not naming names ;-)  I adore each and everyone of them and celebrate their diversity and individuality. I just wish I could see some of them more often.  Also I love everyone I interact with on a regular basis online, despite the fact I may never meet most of them I am often overwhelmed with the kindness and generousity of spirit from so-called "complete strangers"  The fact that I haven't actually met some of my favourite people in my social circles in no way detracts from the fact that I view some of them as valued and trusted friends. 

I am thankful for my job. It's tiring and at times completely soul destroying and sometimes I am surpressing the urge to runaway and hide from it, but there are some lovely days and it pays for my nasty gadget/comic book/prog habit. 

I am thankful for the music that plays such a big part of my life. It soothes my soul and puts me back on track at the most turbulent of moments. 

I am thankful for the freedom to be myself.