What I'm Thankful For This Year (and What I Miss the Most)

You’ve probably seen this internet meme on social media that speaks to the power of gratitude—and the fact that this year didn’t turn out the way we thought it would.

I knew 2020 would be a big deal; I just didn't know it would be, well, this.

Irrespective of the ups and downs and disappointments this year has brought, there is always something to be thankful for.

I’m aware that I have privilege and am having a much easier go at pandemic life than many others: I’m healthy, employed, and have a partner who is also healthy and employed. We are, as Bruno Mars would say, hashtag blessed.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here’s my list of what I’m thankful for this year, in no particular order. These are things that I may never have considered in years past, but have been illuminated as important assets during this bizarre time:

A pretty good imagination. Drifting off into a lucid dream-like state is something I’m prone to, so having this ability during quarantine has been helpful for entertaining myself.

Earning power. I don’t mean ‘having money right now’; I mean ‘the ability to earn more money later’. There’s a big distinction, one that I think more folks are aware of these days.

Great coworkers. I talk to my work family more frequently than I do my actual family these days, so it helps that I work with folks I’d actually want to hang out with.

And because every ‘yin’ needs a ‘yang’, here’s a shortlist of the things I miss most right now:

Networking events and large gatherings. I love people-watching and parties; I love meeting new people and handshakes and hugs. I miss that rush of an IRL event that a video call just can’t capture.

Wearing outfits. As great as it is to wear sweatpants during the work day, I do miss wearing proper outfits (with shoes!) from time to time.

Airports and travel. Yes, I’m one of those weirdos who loves airports (see: my love for people-watching). You can bet that as soon as it’s safe, I’m gonna be on a plane somewhere else.

And what say you, dear reader? Does your ‘thankful’/’wish’ list look different this year?

(The image for this post is a snap of our Thanksgiving meal this year, taken by my husband. I’m of course immeasurably thankful for him, good food, and our house, even if staying at home is basically all we do these days.)