Thanksgiving Thankfulness

The trend in the blogosphere today is to post a list of things you are thankful for. And boy do I have a lot to be thankful for in 2008.

1. My dad never has to worry about where he’ll end up. Being that my father has no retirement, savings or a silver dollar to his name, I am very grateful for the ability to be able to provide him with the security of a home, and knowing that he will always be taken care of, even if I had to work 3 jobs to do it. I’m just grateful to have the best dad one could ever ask for. One that respects my beliefs, supports my dreams, and puts up with my inanities 🙂

2. Devoted friends and even people who aren’t really close to me, but felt the need to support my father and I in our time of need. All of the people that raised the $7,000 we needed to get our home, some of which I know very well, and others of which I don’t know at all. I’m very grateful for all of you.

3. The house, how can I not be grateful for the house? It’s an awesome home, it came at the perfect time at the perfect price and in a perfect location. To go from living in a condemned home to being homeless to owning our own perfect home, I couldn’t ask for anything more. I’m grateful that I had the strength to pull myself together when all I wanted to do was crack, and all I could do was cry knowing that we were about to be homeless. I am grateful that we were only homeless for two months.

4. I am grateful for my Aunt that let my father and I come into her home to live while we got our bearings together to find our home. The most self-less act you can give, is to offer your life and home to someone else.

5. I’m grateful that the blinds over my eyes regarding finances were pulled off, and I’ve come to realize that all of the clutter and unnecessary crap laying around was just unused money left to rot. I don’t need all of these things, and I don’t need to buy anything new.

6. And I’m grateful for the sweetheart for his constant amazing support, and all of the people I’ve become close with over the last year. You’ve all become a part of me.

7. I am grateful for my job and having the best bosses and co-workers that I could ever hope to have. They’ve supported me and encouraged me, and gave me a chance despite not having a college education. I hope I serve them well in return.

8. I’m grateful for the opportunities and chances I’ve been given over the last 3 years since I started reflecting on my life. I know now that everything that has happened had a purpose, whether not being able to buy a used car, to finally buying my mustang, to not having a penny in savings, to now having a respectable emergency fund and a house. To having a 525 credit score in 2005 to a 690 credit score in 2008. To just knowing that I have the ability to change whatever it is I don’t like about my life, and all the bad things that happen. I look forward to the challenges in 2009 and hope I grow and learn from them just as much as I did in 2008. Afterall, no one else is going to fix them but me.