Top 5 Things I Am Thankful For

This was a really hard list to make, because I felt incredibly... sappy creating it. Sadly, the things I am thankful for are usually the things everyone says they're thankful for. I do mean it, however, which may set me apart from others who just say it cuz they're supposed to? Hmm... we'll see.

5) Music. My life would be empty without music. I think I would be a much different person if I did not have it in my life; I would not understand myself or the world in the same way.



4) The ocean. Well, the ocean and everything that lives in it, would be more apt. Spending time near the ocean, on the ocean, and in the ocean has provided me with some of the most incredible, exciting, soul-searching and soul-defining moments of my life. Scuba diving is the time when I feel most at peace and most like myself, and for that I shall be forever thankful!



3) Really Good Teachers. This quarter I took two history classes from very famous historians, which juxtaposed two very different approaches to teaching. One, taught by a Pulitzer-Prize winning Constitutional historian was the epitome of every bad, elite university cliche: he talked incessantly about himself, his children, his past students who have gone on to become lawyers/politicians/etc., and everything else that was irrelevant to the curriculum and really took away from any point that I would have taken away from lecture. We read one of his books, which he reminded us of often. In fact, the last lecture of class was him actually reading from one of his essays that he was "really proud of." Not even kidding. The other class was taught by a McArthur Fellow who is the premiere historian in his field. He never mentioned himself, unless he was discussing history as a meta-subject, and we read some of his book, but I honestly didn't even realize it was his writing until it was pointed out to me by a friend. The level of thinking in his lectures far exceeded almost any other class I've taken at Stanford, forcing you to think about difficult, large themes, and was not about memorizing facts/obscure Latin phrases (not even kidding about the other prof) but instead was about thinking outside the box. Even though I was not interested in the subject matter, it turned out to be one of hte best classes I have ever taken, because it forced me to think about the world around me in a completely new light and reminded me why I love to learn, and why education/school is actually important. So I'm thankful for that! And, really, I just wanted to rant about the other class.



2) The little things in life. Awww, cliches. My dear, dear friends. But, really, I am thankful for those small moments during the day that just make you smile and remind you that being alive is actually pretty cool. For example, Val and I have advent calendars... so every day, even if only for the two minutes it takes me to eat the chocolate, I have something to look forward to and feel warm fuzzy about.



1) Family. This is where I feel a little trite. Hopefully my explanation makes it a little less so, however. Something I have learned since leaving home is that family is much, much more than the people you are related to by blood, and it is possible to create family wherever you are. Clearly, I am thankful for the family I am related to- without my parents, brother, or extended family's support, love and guidance... well, lord knows what my life would be like. I'd be a fucking mess. But, I'm also incredibly grateful for the family that I have found outside of the "nuclear" family-- the friends I have made that have become my family because I do not live with mine anymore. I would also be a wreck without the few people who have taken the time to actually get to know and understand me and have become such an important part of my life that I cannot imagine it without them. It gives me hope that the future, as an adult, won't be so lonely. :)

Top 5 Things I'm Thankful For

Having finally come to from my turkey-induced coma, I can offer you the Top 5 Things I'm Thankful For. This was quite an interesting exercise because I found a lot to be thankful for but had a difficult time choosing what would make the cut and then how to write about it. I took some pointers from this interesting article about gratitude journals that I read in the NYT on my way home Thanksgiving Day. Apparently, a gratitude journal can make you a happier person. After reading the article, I honestly considered starting a gratitude journal of my own, but then I realized being happier might compromise my caustic wit and thought the better of it.

5) Preliminary Deadlines - As much as I hate them, I really love them. Every single one of my classes this semester has had preliminary deadlines for our semester projects/papers. Even though I’ve half-assed every single one of them, I’m glad to know that I have something down on paper even if that something sucks.



4) Neighbors - I’ve never been much of the neighborly type, I tend to keep myself and prefer that others keep to themselves as well. But now that I have friendly neighbors, boy am I glad I do. Here’s why: They’ll do things for you! Like take care of your cat and bring in your newspaper while you’re out of town. Also, there’s that sense of community thing, but that’s really secondary to having people do favors for you.



3) Having Someone to Come Home To—even if that someone is a cat. I was really happy that I got a cat over the summer when I came home to find her genuinely excited to see me. It sure beat coming back to a cold, dark, empty house, even if Bayani can’t cook me dinner or give me a back massage. Nevertheless, an enthusiastic purr is enough of a homecoming for me.


2) Being Able to Go Home - I’m thankful that I can go home and have a family to go home to that I actually like. It occurs to me every so often that some people actually don’t like they’re families, which must make the holidays suck a lot.



1) Being Able to Leave Home - As much as I love my family, I’m glad that I don’t have to live with them anymore. I think the pleasure of going home is a direct function of being able to leave. Plus, not being there all the time makes it that much more enjoyable and my family a lot more tolerable. And that probably makes me happier than any gratitude journal.