Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It makes me step back and see all that I have; it opens my eyes to the fortune in my life. It has nothing to do with the meals of epic (literally) proportions. (But on the subject of the food, I am still humored by my turkey: oh, the days when I was a creative person with a creative job. I shall be telling this with a sigh, somewhere ages and ages hence…)

Also, I have little interest in the history of the holiday or the debate of what that first Thanksgiving was really like. Instead, I like the modern translation—what Thanksgiving means to me. The day gives us the opportunity to see the simple gifts in our lives that we so often overlook. It's one day not ruled my commercialism because it centers on what we have instead of what we want.

I am thankful for my family: often dysfunctional but always loving. I am thankful to have Nick in my life because of his overwhelming kindness. I am thankful to have my health and access to pain management resources. I am thankful to have a job when so many others have lost theirs. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head and food on my table. I am thankful that I am happy…I am thankful that life looks beautiful to me.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving and take a moment to remember who and what in your life matters most…our time here is never long enough.