Thanksgiving

I am thankful for... family. I married a wonderful man who is a native of So Cal. We are always welcomed by his parents and siblings and enjoy spending time with them very much. We also love our extended family throughout the country, as often as we can see them. They keep us grounded and at the same time encourage us to reach for the stars.
I am thankful for... health. There are always ups and downs with health, but for now we are in a stable period where we aren't consumed with daily worries about our health or the immediate health of anyone we know. Flu season seems to be on everyone's mind, and surely there are many people suffering, but at least some of us were able to get together and celebrate.
I am thankful for... friends. Our friends have shared some of the biggest events of their lives with us, and we in turn do the same for them. Good friends (such as we have) are around in fair weather and when it is a bit dark and stormy. New friends have grown with us through the changes we are making together and independently of each other. We couldn't ask for better!
I am thankful for... stimulation. I am lucky to be surrounded with opportunities for stimulating my mind and body. I can walk into a Science Library, attend a lecture, or participate in a roundtable discussion regarding the latest developments in chemical biology on any given day of the week. I can get together with friends for a bike ride, road run, indoor climb, lap swim, power yoga, push-up contest... you name it and I bet I can make it happen. I feel like I have the world at my fingertips sometimes. And the sheer beauty of the natural world enlivens me.
I am thankful for... community. I am so glad to have a larger network of people to interact with. I feel a sense of belonging to both the university and the city I live in. I enjoy participating in "local" happenings. I feel that ties to people in your community strengthens the quality of life for everyone. I really love going to local events in public lands and seeing the harmony that can exist when people work cooperatively.
I am thankful for... my dear husband. He really is the axis around which I spin. I feel that he has freed me from my own self-doubt. He allows me to flourish in the nourishing environment of unconditional love and support he provides. He is helping me become truer each day. I would be a much lesser person without his help. Thank you, honey!

Gratitude isn't always easy. I've been having a hard time with it lately. Thankfully we have holidays such as Thanksgiving where we can reflect on life in a more positive way. I've been searching for quotes to put on our T-shirts. How about:
"Tough times don't last but tough people do." - A.C. Green

On another note, the holidays mean FOOD at least in my family. I've been biking and running all year long to achieve the level of fitness I have now. Despite my efforts, I learned today that my BMI is still in the "overweight" bracket and I will have to lose another 8 pounds to be in the "average" realm. I have no plans to lose that 8 pounds during the holidays, I would like to make it my resolution for 2010 that I will maintain and perhaps by 2011 reach that sweet goal of 135 pounds and bearly out of the "overweight" category.