It’s Important to Be Thankful for Everything That Makes Your Life Better

Thank you.

It’s an expression people don’t say nearly enough anymore. All you have to do is pay attention and watch for it, you’ll realize that these days, unfortunately, gratitude is in short supply.

Perhaps that’s one reason why people tend to make a big deal about Thanksgiving. It’s their chance to pause and say thank you for all that makes their life great. Don’t be hateful; gotta be grateful, and all that.

I’d like to think I express gratitude all year long, for big things and small ones — including when people hold a door for me, when I’m brought something by a server in a restaurant, when I see a movie I like, when someone gives me a gift or does me a favor, etc. — but I can always do better.

So, in that spirit, here is a list (in no particular order) of some of the people, places, things, and events I’m giving thanks for on Thanksgiving this year — and on other days, too.

• Blaze Pizza in Kendall Square, for offering to heat up their chocolate chip cookies before customers like me can even ask them to do it

• Spotify Premium

• The ability to find a new job at the pace I wanted to, and that the timing worked out so well

• The Lone Bellow, who are releasing a new album in February and going on tour again. Yay!

• The Quick Resume feature on the Xfinity DVR

• Brian Stelter, Dylan Byers, and Alex Weprin, who write and edit my favorite daily email newsletters: Reliable Sources, Byers Market, and Today in Entertainment, respectively

• People who can go two hours (or more) at the movies without checking their phone

• Lucky Brand, which makes their pants in such a way that I can wear smaller sizes — and the “Skinny” fit — and still be comfortable

• That, even at 11 and a half years old, my niece still has a bedtime routine, and often wants me to be a part of it

• IBM, which overpaid me, and provided me with travel opportunities, and gave me a comfortable place to work for four years

• The Imagineering Story on Disney+

• Having an outlet like this blog to write when I want to, about what I want to, as often as I want to

• That there are so many worthy Democratic candidates for President in the primary right now, even if that makes it hard to choose one to root for

• Night Mode on the iPhone 11 Pro

• People on social media who are still open to conversation and engagement, and who haven’t completely automated their presence or made it all about work

• Kaitlin Collins’ reporting

• The view from the rooftop bar at the Envoy Hotel

• Shutterfly, which allows me to compile fun photo scrapbooks of my travels and my years, and Animoto, which allows me to make fun video recaps

• That I could afford to spend three days at Disney parks this year.

• Pleasant surprises like Ready or Not, which was dark and funny and one of the best times I’ve had at the movies this year

• Ariel and Gabe at Comella’s Chestnut Hill, Nicole at the Station Diner, and Val at Johnny’s Luncheonette, who know what I like, treat me well, and make being a regular customer worth it

• The mac and cheese (with carrots and broccoli mixed in) at Trident Booksellers and Cafe on Newbury Street — and the fact that Trident now has a loyalty program

• Sunsets. The really colorful kind

• Third-party recruiters who actually go above and beyond, and do more than just connect you with opportunities

• Summer, when my annoying, “illegal” (according to our condo rules, anyway), undergraduate, upstairs neighbor goes home to China, and the apartment above me is quiet for three months

• Mike and Carla’s lake house in Michigan City, Indiana

• Facebook and Twitter, which allow me to keep relationships alive, even when I don’t see the people for long stretches

• The #squad — but especially Maureen

• That I decided to stop watching Riverdale, Empire, The Flash, Stumptown, Evil, and Prodigal Son this fall

• When my nephews FaceTime me proactively

• The fact that I was able to see the awesome Hamilton Exhibit in Chicago this summer before it closed somewhat prematurely

• Chase and Marshall

• The Matty in the Morning show

• Roots employees who remember me — even in other cities where I don’t live — because I definitely shop there often enough

• My friends and my family — even the folks I don’t get to see or speak with very often, and the fact that many of those relationships still exist despite the absence and/or distance

And, of course, you, my blog post reader. I’m thankful for you, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are YOU thankful for this year?