In keeping with the theme of the season, I thought i’d do a little year end review of my life. But when I started down that road, I decided that rather than relive all the low points (and whatever high points there were) I would instead do a gratitude list. Because if there is one thing that comes out of a bad year its the thing you have to be thankful for.

1. My family. I am grateful to my big, weird, occasionally frustrating, drama filled, or annoying family. I love how big and unique my family is, but also how similar we are. I know that ultimately I could turn to any member of my family for support and get it unconditionally and immediately and I am extremely grateful for that - I know it is a rare gift. I’m also grateful that I actually like my family members, that they are each funny, intelligent and caring individuals. It makes it so much easier  :)

2. My friends. I think i’ve always been aware that I have really great friends in my life. Both close friends whom I interact with on a near daily basis and those I interact with on a less frequent basis. But with the challenges and trials I’ve experienced this past year, particularly the past 6 or so months, I’ve learned that I’m far more fortunate that I had even realized, and I have been repeatedly awed and humbled by the consistant flow of advice, inspiration, distraction, entertainment, unconditional support and most of all love. – I feel truly – and I do not usually use this word, but its the only one that comes close to being the right word –  blessed to have so many friends, in so many forms, and with such varied roles in my life. For perhaps the first time in my life, I fully believe and trust that anywhere I turn, in any category of my life or even phsysical location I find myself in, I will have a friend if I need one. My only hope is that I can return the favor by even half to any of them.

3. My Health. I am grateful to be generally healthy and strong. I could go to the gym more, and I could probably eat a little better, but I’m not massively overweight (no matter what Prevention.com and eDiets say), and I have no major or debilitating health problems. And I will be even more grateful for my health when I win the Biggest Loser competition and take my $1K shopping for hot new clothes.

4. My creativity. The sub group on this is a specific acknowledgement of my storytelling friends and mentors. They also fall into the friends category, but need to be specifically acknowledged here because they have given me tools and outlets for the development and nurturing of my creativity and storytelling ability, which has enhanced my life already, and I think will continue to in ways I have yet to realize. I’m also just grateful to have gotten to a place in my life where I feel ready and able to acknowledge whatever talent I may have and to prioritize developing it.

5. My professional associates – this category overlaps a little with the friends category, as some of my work associates have become friends and vice-versa, but as my work has been responsible for a large part of my struggles this year, I need to acknowledge the professional relationships that helped me get through and who made it bearable. The one thing I’ve learned is that I do my job best when I am able to work with the best, and this year any successes I’ve had professionally have been largely due to the people who were helping me.

6. My clients (past, present and future) Even though my clients are the real source of most of my misery this year, and certain clients drove me to the brink of throwing it all away, I still have to acknowledge the important role that they played in my life, and will hopefully play in the future. If not for the professional stress and trauma  this year I would not have learned how awesome my work associates are, I would have had one less opportunity to experience the bounty of support that my social network can provide, and I would not have been able to eat what little I did. I hope that in the coming year, I am able to experience good client relationships and professional growth, in whatever direction that turns out to be.

7. That I live in a free and democratic country. This isn’t something I would ever have put on a gratitude list in the past, but the last year has made me particularly aware of the benefit and tenuous nature of living in a free and democratic country. It is a free and democratic country that pulled together and elected Barak Obama to the presidency. Not just the first African American president, but a revolutionary leader who has reinspired me to believe that change is possible, that inspirational leadership is not dead and there just might be something left to believe in. The end of W’s presidency reminds me of how tenuous a free and democratic country can be. For the last 8 years W has done what he could to restrict freedom and civil rights, to chip away at the constitution and to offend the principals of this country. Perhaps because the end is in site, and its not as scary to think about, but all of a sudden I’m much more aware of how dangerous he was. I am particularly aware of this today as his “acts of consience” bill becomes a law, which allows health care workers the right to indiscriminately refuse to perform procedures or provide services that they feel morally opposed to. Receptionist at the clinic doesn’t believe in birth control? She can refuse to schedule your appointment. Cashier at Wal-mart is a christian scientist? She can refuse to ring you up for your antibiotics. It is turely the most dangerous, conservative, myopic, and prejudicial act by this president yet, and the only thing that lets me sleep at night is the fact that Obama is already trying to figure out how to undo it. Among all of other things W’s done that he as to undo.

I hope everyone is able to have a wonderful holiday season and can take a moment to do their own gratitude list – its a nice exercise for your heart and mind.