We are heading straight into my most UNFAVORITE time of year when everything is syrupy sentimental and consumeristic AND people state the obvious as if they are blowing minds with their astute thoughts. Things like, "I'm thankful for my family," which is totally true and also not deeply cognitive if you are over age 30.
Anyway, I do need to count my blessings more and am determined to really think a little more carefully about it. So since it is Nov 21, here are 21 thankful.
1---I'm thankful for a brain that thinks deeply even though it means that people who don't think deeply kind of drive me nuts.
2--I'm thankful I was finally issued a district computer even though I asked for one in August and had given up that I would ever get one. I have learned how to live without it so it will probably sit unused but I still got it and am glad.
3--I am thankful that I keep having periods because it will make me EVEN MORE HAPPY when I finally, someday STOP HAVING PERIODS.
4--I am thankful that M had a recent book project that he asked me to help him with. It was actually fun to plan with him and help him color at the kitchen table. He even said, "This is fun!" and you never hear 13-year-olds say that 1. with their moms or 2. about anything involving school.
5--I am also thankful that M has finally stopped wearing shorts to school and has adopted the pants I bought him. I hate to spend money on stuff for my kids that they never use. It also made me very cold to watch him walk into school in early November in shorts.
6--I am thankful for the early dark of November because I enjoy hibernating from now until early March. It is a restful time of year that I think far too many people don't appreciate. I try to appreciate it.
7--I am thankful for a new friend with physical and mental disabilities because he helps me notice things about how other people (and probably me before I knew him) treat people with physical and mental disabilities.
8--I am thankful for 25 years of marriage with D. Most of the time.
9--I am thankful I spent the other day watching my dad use his new pizzelle maker I ordered for him. It makes me happy to do things to help my parents since I will never actually repay them for all the ways they helped me.
10--I am thankful my kids have two generations of parents behind them who have supported education. I tell my kids all the time that they have a leg up on a lot of other kids simply because they lucked into having grandparents and parents who believe education is the most important thing.
11-I am thankful for the new old-person sunglasses that fit over prescription glasses because sunshine glare is really bothering me.
12--I am thankful that I NO LONGER CARE what people think of me which means I will wear the old-person sunglasses that fit over my prescription glasses and be not just happy but THRILLED even if I look like Bono during the Zooropa years.
13--I am thankful I am working with JCPS high schoolers at the same school two days a week. I feel like I'm developing relationships which run of the mill subbing doesn't get you.
14--I am thankful for my new paper calendar which, even though I don't believe anything different happens on January 1, does let me sort of "put to bed" the past period of time. I like those clean, new sheets of paper.
15--I'm thankful we're changing our podcast format a little bit so I can read more fun stuff I want to read and not feel so stressed.
16--I'm thankful that more clothing manufacturers are making softer clothing for those of us with sensory issues.
17--I'm thankful I've got a pretty good "asshole-dar" and recognized a long time ago that Elon Musk is kind of a dick....when others were still fan-boying over him.
18--I'm thankful my kids can take jokes and don't take themselves too seriously.
19--I'm thankful more companies are using less wasteful products, and that I'm paying more attention to it.
20--I'm thankful for my kids' neighborhood pet-sitting business because it has taught them the importance of earning money and caring for sometimes old and feeble animals.
21--I'm thankful that G is trying new foods, including sushi. Given his sensory issues, this is something I really wasn't sure would ever happen.
