42 Bullet Points I'm Grateful For

Writing a blog post of thanks is a cliché thing to do for Thanksgiving… but I really like cliché things, so I’mma gonna write one. These 42 (and a half) bullet points don't represent anything specific. It's just the number of bullet points I wrote before I decided that I wanted to go to bed. 

I’m thankful for:

•  My family, and my relationships with each family member. My sister recently got FaceTime, and I get to carry Amy J around my apartment on my phone talking to her. Or sit late at night and Skype her on my phone. My brother called me this week just to chat. And that pretty much made my week. My Dad and I exchange photos each day (which will be another blog post, sometime). My mom and I chat on the phone regularly
• My mom tells me where she’s going hiking so if they don’t show up I can tell people where to search for them so they hopefully don’t die.
• My mom also tells me when they arrive safely back in civilization so I don’t worry they died.
• Good health, and good health insurance. I went to the emergency room twice within two weeks this past summer, and the only reason I’m not A. Dead or B. Destitute is because of good doctors, and good health insurance. 
• I’m REALLY grateful for good health, good health insurance and good doctors. I’ve had a number of family members in and out of the hospital over the past (well, forever) year and I’m glad that those of them that are still here, are still here. 
• Homesickness. When I am sad about that, it lets me know that I have a place in my heart for my parents, my brother, my sister, and my home. It makes me realize how much I appreciate my family.  A lot of the time, I miss them—but it’s not too bad. I’m living my only life; I stay busy. But days like today, while I was having a fun Thanksgiving with friends I really missed being HOME. And I cried (later of course. When I was home alone. By myself. Don’t worry. I didn’t embarrass myself THAT much. I only spit milk up all over myself. No crying.)
• The lady at work who is determined to turn me into a lady. “Ladylike, Megan!  Walk ladylike!  You are too pretty to gallop, or tromp around like a man.”  “But Nicooooole! I don’t know any other way to waaaaalk.”  “Here. Let me show you.”  And, she also gives me her discarded gently used shoes. Love her.
• I’m also grateful that she tells me not to fall into the trap of eating out frequently. She was all “You better not be falling into that trap! It’s too expensive!” That’s true mentor-like love, I tell you.
• The man at the metro who put seven dollars on my card when I forgot my wallet so I could get to work and back home.
• Friends. They make life a lot better.
• I have a job. I know many people who aren’t so blessed.
• At my job, I sit next to a window. The sunshine keeps me warm and happy.
• Internet. I can talk to, look at, chat with, type to all of my friends and family members. I keep in touch with a lot more because of it.
• My phone. Because I can text. Even if I don’t ever text you back, but it’s not that I don’t love you, it’s just that I am a HORRIBLE texter. Speaking of which, I need to go text Chase back.  Aghk.  It’s been hours. Sorry Chase!
• People move to DC. Lots of people. Because then I find people that I know.
• People will come to DC to visit me. Because it’s awesome here. And I’m awesome. And they want to see DC. And me.
• People will move to DC. And then I get to see them. Because they’re awesome.
• Having enough to eat. Every now and then someone on the street will ask me not for money, but for food. It makes me truly appreciate that I can come home each day and stuff my face. On days like today, my entire day was devoted to stuffing my face. And I’m grateful for the ability to do so.
• Milk
• Caitlyn. She is my DC family. We make food together, play together. She makes me laugh, and laughs at my stupid jokes. Around her I can be myself. She lends me running clothes, encourages me in my one treat a day health kick, and lets me cheat when I have really bad days.
• My AMAZING roommates. I come home each day to a HOME and not just an apartment. They are friendly, supportive, funny, and fun. And they cook with me. And that’s pretty great.
• The gospel. It has given me an immediate social group, and it gives me the chance to repent again and again for all of my stupid mistakes. The Savior really is what makes the difference in my life.
• The Comcast guy (Darnell) who let me install my own cable and internet devices.  Otherwise I would still be without technology. One week was enough.
• The week I spent without cable and Internet. It was good for my soul.
• A comfy bed.
• Those people who you call when you’re standing on the edge of a cliff. Who don’t make a big deal of it, but are always there for you when you need them the most.
• Youth. I have no idea what I’m doing with my life, no idea where I’m going, hardly an inkling of where I’m at—and it’s okay. Because I’m young.
• Experience. I’m constantly being told “you act so much older than your age” and I chalk that up to having experience some things that make me realize that my life is not the only important thing in the world, and I’m not the center of everybody’s universe—hardly even my own.
• Boundaries.
• Dear Prudence. She assures me that other people lead lives FAR more messed up than my own.
• Couches, Tables, and other furnishings. Because living for a few weeks without them was kinda fun, but not great.
• A mini fridge to hold all of our drinks.
• Kind texts sent out of the blue.
• Phone calls from old friends
• Writing things down, and realizing how blessed I am.
• Painful experiences. I grow more from pain than I ever will from easy things. And I'm glad to have the opportunity to have grown. (Notice that's past tense. I dont' appreciate GROWING. THAT'S always painful.) 
• People who let me complain to them
• Friends who allow me to talk them into running 5ks with me.
• Susan, who wakes me up at 6 to go to the gym.
• A bank account that is growing more quickly than it is shrinking.
• Food. Because dude. That stuff tastes GREAT.
• Cooking, because it’s relaxing and awesome.
• Typings. Because if I were writing this on a piece of paper, it would be ILLEGIBLE.
• Thought Catalog. ‘Cause it makes me think.
• You. Because you are at the bottom of this list. Even if you didn’t read it all. Because anybody with this link who spent the time to scan over this list is someone I care about. Even if I don’t know you very well, if you’re my Facebook friend, if you’re a random stranger. I care about you. Maybe not deeply, because that would be ridiculous and untrue, and I don't care about you all the same. But I care about you. Because I met you once, because you're my friend, because you're a human being. Because sometimes, you're probably lonely. And because I like people. 

If this isn't love, I don't know what is. :) 

Meggers