Today, and every day, I am thankful for my friends, old and new, near and far, some that I see almost every day and some only once in twenty years. You fill my life with joy.

Today, and every day, I am thankful for my family, in all its iterations and all its quirkiness. Whether started in blood or in spirit or through the trials of life, it is a connection by choice. You connect me to my past and future, through time and space, and also anchor me here and now.

Today, and every day, I am thankful for books. Yeah, you bet it's a material thing, and yes, I am so very thankful for them. Books contain words. And books carry those words across time and space, between cultures and between minds. And those words carry ideas and beauty and dreams and pain and humanity and revolution and comfort and laughter and connection. They infect you with compassion and curiosity, and vaccinate you against fear. I am thankful that I get to read.

Today, and every day, I'm thankful that I even exist to be able to conceive of the notion of thanks, much less subsequently continue existing long enough to give any. I mean, seriously folks, how is it that I'm even here to do this? AND for all of you to also be here for me to share it with? No, really, take a moment today and really really think about that...

Today, and every day, I am thankful that Canada Post went on strike and messed up my dad's attempts to get into grad school in the US. Instead he ended up at the University of Alberta, and it was while there that my parents got married and started a family and a new life in Edmonton. So thankful to live in this amazing country and so much love for my hometown.

Today, and every day, I am thankful for music. I could add many more words but I'm just going to leave this here instead...