#8: Giving Thanks
Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, I’m going to stretch out the sentiment. This year’s Thanksgiving was especially meaningful. I’ve felt especially grateful and perhaps “deeper” gratitude this year. I also have a few new things for which I’m thankful. May this post serve as a reminder to us all to be thankful way more often than just around this time of year.
Here are some things I’m most thankful for this year, given this recent adventure:
Old Friends (and Chosen Family)
I spent Thanksgiving with my life long friend Amanda, her sister Morganne (and her husband, Matt), and their parents, “Aunt” Debbie and “Uncle” Joe. Amanda and I were born one month apart (I’m older…which she never lets me forget!) and in houses about 100 yards away from one another in Connecticut. We grew up side by side…literally. As a child, if I needed help with my chores, she led the charge so we could get them done faster. When I ran my first marathon, she was on the sidelines cheering me on. When my mom suddenly passed, she made sure to come see me. When I didn’t think I could make the Kilimanjaro climb, she was there by my side, telling me I could do it.
Of all Thanksgivings, I was so grateful to spend THIS one with her and her family. I think the universe did me a favor. It really meant a lot to me.
(AND I ate some incredible vegetarian meals, drank some lovely wines AND did loads of laundry.)
Chosen Family (and Old Friends)
My 20-year high school reunion took place over the Thanksgiving weekend. Given my new lifestyle, I didn’t even consider going up to Connecticut for it…until about two weeks prior to the date. Something hit me and I knew that I would regret not going. I loved high school and have a lot of close friends from that time of my life. I had a bizillion Delta miles (well, not that many), the logistics of it weren’t that difficult to figure out and…YOLO. My time in CT (including travel time to/from SC) was a total of 36 hours. But I was so, so, so happy that I went.
My friends (many from high school and many from other chapters of my life) are my chosen family. They are not people I am forced to love through blood or through marriages…they are people I have chosen to keep by my side. They add value, positive energy and support to my life that I can only hope I provide to them in return.
Taking this journey has only magnified these relationships for me. These people are so supportive and every day they keep me going. They know me, stick by me and help me become a better person. Hopefully they are supporting me by reading this…if not, I may need to reevaluate some of them (just kidding…sort-of…hehe).
Seriously, though…the calls, the texts, the emails, the surprises in the mail…I feel like I can conquer the world with the support that I have. I am so thankful!
Showers
For better or for worse (no pun intended), when I see this word, I first think of wedding showers or baby showers. This is NOT what I mean when I say this. Although I do appreciate the celebration of weddings and babies, I’m not referring to those things now.
What I mean is actual SHOWERS. Like, taking a shower. With hot water. And water pressure. In the comfort of a clean bathroom in a home. Showers are taken for granted and after one month of living on the road, I vow to myself that I will never take another shower for granted again.
My Dad
This guy. He is incredible.
I mean it when I say this…I couldn’t have taken this leap without his support - emotionally, mentally and logistically.
Like a fine wine, our relationship has developed and improved over time. We never used to “get” each other - in fact, we couldn’t have been further opposites regarding how we looked at things and what we expected from each other. But over time, we grew. We each grew in different ways, but the important part is that through our own growth, we grew closer to each other…as if we both leaned in towards each other and met in that space neither one of us was willing or able to go before.
When I told him I had the idea to travel for a year and live on the road, he was hesitant. However, since I’m so charming and such a skilled marketer (ahem), he slowly got on board. Once I knew I had his attention, I made the definitive decision to do it. And once I made the decision (which I wouldn’t have done unless I knew he would support me on), he made it his mission to set me up for success.
Just like me, my dad knew nothing about RV’ing (although he knows pretty much everything else and can fix or make anything). We tackled all the prep work together - hour by hour, user manual by user manual, mishap by mishap - and we figured things out. He was able to send me off on this journey feeling confident that he did everything he could to set me up for a safe, fun and memorable year on the road.
Side note: He had phone calls from me literally 24 hours after departing his house…when it was 20 degrees, the Airstream batteries were dying and my car 7-prong was busted. I bet he smiled when he picked up my calls. :)
National and State Parks
This is a new one for me. Over the past month, I have spent a lot of time in National and State parks. I rely on these parks…to explore, to learn from, to SLEEP in.
In a world full of controversy, technology, and constant development, I find such humility in the simplicity of nature. Standing in a forest, on a beach or in a cave that looks nearly identical to how it did centuries ago is remarkable. And more importantly, it’s a privilege.
I am so grateful for these parks. For the individuals who founded them and run them, for the movements and organizations that keep them going and for the people out there who visit, cherish and support them. We share this planet with so many other species and it’s our responsibility to preserve and protect it for future generations.
I know I sound like a speech or a mission statement (or something), but my appreciation for this is real and I feel #blessed to have the opportunity to take advantage of what these parks have to offer. What they offer really is beyond my words.