Happy Thanksgiving!

I know I use this blog a lot more to talk about what’s wrong than what’s right; maybe that’s human nature, or maybe it’s just mine. I tend to belong to the “if nobody points out it’s broken, how can we fix it?” school of thought, which can be very useful. But too much focus on the negatives can bring you down and make you lose track of what’s going right.

And, really, there’s an awful lot that’s going right. Most on my mind: I’m poised to enter a profession that is dynamic and interesting and has so much going on that it’s hard to choose where to focus. (“It’s hard to choose” looks a little complainy, but I really don’t think having four or five totally separate areas I’d be thrilled to work on is a bad thing.)

I also live in a great city-town (Pittsburgh is this hybrid thing that’s neither city nor town), and when I sit back and take the time to reflect, my little heart is warmed thinking about the new and old friends I have here. I really like these people and am happy to have them in my life. My farther-away friends make me both sad and happy to think about; I miss them, but I’m so proud and happy to call them my friends. And for all the time spent separated, the reunions are all the more joyous.

I have a partner who loves me and whom I love back, three mischievous pets (and two frogs–no mischief there), a warm and comfortable place to live, a cup of coffee in front of me, and a Thanksgiving dinner at my friends’ warm and inviting house to look forward to this afternoon. I also have a pretty good shot at straight A’s (or at least A-minuses) this semester, a part-time job that I like and that will help me get full-time employment before long, a fully-functional computer with all the bells and whistles I need, new vanilla-smelling soap for my shower, and several different types of purple pens.

And my bronchitis is mostly gone. I can breathe, and it is wonderful.

It’s kind of a nice feeling, making lists of what’s right in one’s world. (This list isn’t comprehensive. I’ve got a couple of chickens I choose not to count out loud yet.) I encourage you all to do the same, to yourself or in your blog or wherever seems best. And have a happy Thanksgiving!