Thank You for All of These Things (And More)

Photo courtesy of Paul Downey/Flickr

Thank you.

Those are two words that don’t get said nearly enough. These days, we’re so quick to jump on people and businesses for doing things we don’t like, but we hardly ever recognize the good things that make us happy and show our gratitude for them.

That’s just one reason why it’s nice that Thanksgiving exists: Because other than enjoying delicious food — mmmm … turkey and gravy — it’s the one time of year when everyone gets to express how grateful they are. It’s like the great poet Nicole Westbrook once said: “Don’t be hateful, gotta be grateful!”

(All kidding aside, according to a recent New York Times article, being grateful will actually make you happier person.)

With that in mind, I just wanted to take a second right here, right now, to say thank you for reading. Not just this blog post, but any and all posts you may have read over the years. I recently celebrated my tenth blogiversary, a milestone I’d never have reached were it not for the fact that people actually care what I have to say. I appreciate your support and never take it for granted.

And now, to continue my tradition, here (in no particular order) are more of the people, places, and things I am thankful for this year. Thank you to each and every one of them.

• My parents, especially my dad, who have instilled in me a great sense of optimism and positivity
• Spotify
• James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke videos
• You’re the Worst‘s second season (that it exists at all)
• Having a job in downtown Boston (in the summer)
• Twitter chats like #cmworld, #contentchat, #luv4social, #spoofchat, #bufferchat, #socialroadtrip, and #sproutchat … and all the great people I’ve met and become friends with (online and off) because of them
• Chicago (the city)
• That day this summer when I discovered Grey Season playing on Newbury Street
• The movie While We’re Young
• The Lone Bellow
• Comcast’s X1 mobile app
• Coworkers who become friends, and friends who want you to be their coworker again
• The Banana Republic outlet at Assembly Row
• The Grinder
• Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies
• My bed
• Patience
• My sister, who is more than a sibling — she’s a friend
• The climax of Tori Kelly’s song “Nobody Love,” when the wall of sound kicks in
• The unfollow button on Twitter and Facebook
• Roche Bros. in Downtown Crossing, for offering a healthier dinner option before movie screenings
• Not Your Father’s Root Beer
• No-shave Sundays
• The French Toast at the Station Deluxe Diner
• Long, productive commutes on the T
• Defense mechanisms, which protect me and help me to bounce back from disappointment
• The promise (no pun intended) of a Bruce Springsteen tour in the first quarter of 2016
• Clyde at Dellaria in Coolidge Corner
• The snooze button
• My niece and nephews, who don’t even realize how awesome they are
• Sweet potato fries
• Larry David, for agreeing to play Bernie Sanders on Saturday Night Live
• Hozier’s “Someone New“
• Good friends who look after me, even (especially) when I don’t do a very good job of looking after myself
• Garden of the Gods
• Local businesses like Brookline Booksmith, In a Pickle, and Johnny’s Luncheonette
• Perspective
• Mac and cheese (preferably with a little broccoli mixed in)

Once again, thank you — to all these things, and so much more.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are YOU thankful for this year? Please let me know in the comments section below.