Jen is Thankful

So... this is my first Thanksgiving away from home. Such. A. Bummer. And that’s really and understatement. Everybody knows that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year, simply because it’s the best. Obviously. It has the best food, there’s very little stress associated with it since mostly all I have to do is drive home and eat a lot for 2 days with people I like, and I usually get to spend every evening of Thanksgiving week with my friends, not worrying about work the next day. There is very little to be desired.

Well, one good thing about having H1N1 this year means I can continue my streak of not working on Thanksgiving Day. Thumbs up to that. (Sidenote: I am totally fine; the infamous Swine Flu barely even bothered me, I just mostly felt really tired... so I slept for 4 days straight, and was out of work the whole week. It was actually sort of awesome.)

The true best thing about Thanksgiving, I think, is that it’s a celebration of being grateful. And I believe that being grateful is the most important feeling someone can convey, to those they love, to humanity, and to the Universe. Every day should be about giving thanks, actually, so I am devoting today’s post to the things I am thankful for.

I am thankful for...
My beloved family, who I cherish and feel so blessed by every day, even on the other side of the Earth.
Hi-speed internet.
Starbucks Awake black tea with loads of sugar.
My kindred spirits on different continents.
The invention of leggings.
Being from Texas.
Having Val, the best audience ever, to always listen to me and love me.
HBO series.
Skype.
Having the best Mom ever, who always listens and never judges.
Growing up in a crowded house full of laughter.
Nana’s and Granny’s unmatchable home-cooking.
Scarves.
Living so close to one of my favorite people in Busan, Sarah Cheng.
The Universe for being so generous to me.
Having a Dad who would do anything for me, and who taught me what good tunes were, changing my life forever.
Q-tips.
Chipotle (even though I haven’t had any in months).
Having someone convince me that I do deserve good things to happen to me.
Colorful earrings.
The 2002 album 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots' by The Flaming Lips
Somehow meeting the two funniest girls in Mesquite way back when we were all merely teenagers, and becoming friends forever.
Having the friendliest, happiest, sweetest brother anybody could ask for.
My husky voice - it’s always a conversation starter.
High heels.
Somehow being brave enough to move away, knowing it would be the best thing for me in the end, no matter how hard it was at the time.
Cheap, beautiful false eyelashes in Korea.
Having a clever, beautiful little mini-me named Carly to remind me what life used to be like, and to have her to be SO overwhelmingly proud of.
Learning to be really good at silver chopsticks.
Being taught to love reading at a young age - my life would never be the same otherwise.
French fries.

Oh, there are so many more, but these are just the few I could come up with right off the bat. I love Thanksgiving so much, and I really am sad I can’t be with my family, but you gotta grow, right? And I give thanks every day anyway, just to be safe.

I love you, family and friends in Texas! Kisses from Korea!