What are you thankful for this year?

Okay, so Thanksgiving is upon us again. Wow, this past year has just flown by! At this time last year, I was preparing paperwork and submitting to tests related to having my surgery approved. I have noticed lately that I am seeing things in a much more positive and festive light this year, and I thought that it might be nice to have a post dedicated to each of us reminding ourselves, and each other, how much we have to be thankful for, today and everyday. I am thankful for the blessings that my family provides me. I am thankful that my children are happy, healthy, and full of joy. I am thankful for my husband, for so many reasons...too many to list. I am thankful that my husband and I continue to re-commit to one another, even through the hard times when most couples give up. I am thankful for good friends, and even the not so good ones...they remind us how great the good ones are! I am thankful that my family is provided for and almost never really wants for anything that we truly need. I am thankful that our country even through frequent political turmoil, is in most ways, still free. I am thankful for every day that the sun still rises...silly, I know, but it is quite amazing. I am thankful for the blessing of being insured, while many are not. I am thankful for the amazing gift that my wonderful, skilled surgeon was able to provide me. I am thankful that I have been given a second chance to live a life of fullness and joy. I am thankful for the new-found confidence to continue to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. I am thankful for the gift of renewed health. And finally, I am thankful for each and every one of you January Lovelies! It has meant the world to me over the last 10 or so months to know that I can always come here for understanding and advice. I know that we all have "real lives" and "real friends" away from this board, but I am sincerely thankful to have a place to go for unselfish support from friends that really understand me and what I am going through. I can't express how much that comforts me and what it means to me. I thank you, ladies. So, let's hear it...what are you thankful for this year? ~Suz

Suz, This is a wonderful post, and a lovely idea. So here goes: I'm thankful for this awesome surgery and the tool it has given me. I'm thankful for my wonderful, supportive husband and all the love he provides. I'm thankful for my great cats (blush) who are all lovey dovey kitties hehe. I'm thankful for my family... even when we don't see eye to eye, they are blood :P I'm thankful for my job that provided the insurance that covered my surgery. I'm thankful for my new sense of adventure and willingness to take risks. I'm thankful for this group of January people, who all come back and share month after month, and keep me in touch and feeling part of a whole. I'm thankful food is no longer my first or last thought everyday. I'm thankful for the talents I have that I now BELIEVE I have, and that I'm starting to use. Basically, I'm thankful for everything in my life right now... whether it seems positive in any given moment doesn't mean it is not a necessary part of my ongoing life lessons. Have a blessed holiday everyone, and thank you all for coming back here again and again. Michele

This is awesome, Suz. Thanks for posting. Not necessarily in order: I'm thankful for restored health. I'm thankful for my husband. I'm thankful that food no longer dictates my behavior and choices. I'm thankful to RUN! I'm thankful to feel my muscles aching instead of my joints. I'm thankful to wear a size 10 for the first time in over 18 years. I'm thankful every time I look in the mirror and say, "Who is that woman?" I'm thankful for moderate - but not excessive - dumping...that I can still eat chocolate, just not too much of it. I'm thankful for restored health. Again! I'm thankful for friends, both online and offline who understand my struggles, rejoice with me for my victories, and just care. I'm thankful for my kids who are great in encouraging me to exercise, but also are really swift to complement me on my ever reducing size. I'm thankful for my youngest son who has always enjoyed snuggling and squishing into my "squishy squishy" (his term for the "old" me's abundance of fat) fatness still likes to snuggle and melt into me even if my hip bones now poke him occasionally. I'm just thankful. Thankful to feel good. Thankful to have traded joy for sorrow, happiness for sadness, health for chronic illness - I could go on for ever, ya know? Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!! Margaret

Great thread Suz. I'm thankful for so much this year as well. I'm thankful for 1) my Faith - Jesus is my rock! 2) my family - praising me constantly for the hard work I've done and telling me I look good. They are so encouraging. 3) the fact that I live in a good neighborhood, my kids have a good school and I'm well taken care of. 4) that this time last year I felt horrible about myself, no self confidence at all. Now, my outlook on life has changed. I am more healthy and feel so good. It shows, it changes the way you treat people, the way you view yourself and just attitude towards life. I'm also thankful for all of you. You are so supportive and encouraging. Happy Thanksgiving to all of my January friends!

Great post!! I am Thankful for God above and My faith I have in him. I am Thankful for my Husband and children I am Thankful for all our good health I am Thankful for this surgery and making me a happier person cause of it. I am Thankful for better health due to surgery saving my life. I am Thankful for life in itself! I am Thankful for all my OH FRIENDS, You guys make my bad days good! I am Thankful for so much, I cant sit here all day to type it out! THANK YOU ALL AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING. STACEY