That grateful time of year

Where do I start? Apparently I just don't have the energy to keep up a full-time blog anymore. I've been trying to fight it and update once in a while for the last couple of years, but it's been pushed to the very back burner by everything I guess I'm supposed to be writing about. And ever since I discovered editing, it's become less important to me to write anything on a regular basis. Writing is always something I've done, but when I found editing I think I realized what it feels like to do what you're supposed to do, that thing that your brain naturally excels at and wants to do all the time and it never feels like a struggle. Writing always felt like a struggle to me and I guess you could say the first thing I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving is the fact that creatively, I've found my way so definitively that a certain part of my mind is at ease when I look at the rest of my life stretching before me. I have a better idea of what that future looks like because I have something I'm good at, that fulfills me and makes me happy, and IT CAN ACTUALLY BE MY CAREER.

At work, they moved me from ANTM to a different show where I'm an assistant editor for the first time! This was after I spent pretty much this entire year badgering them to give me this chance even though I had no training and really no experience aside from editing my own videos at home. By the end of Cycle 13, I was incredibly discouraged. I was beginning to think it would never happen. How would I ever make that leap? One job didn't lead to the other. I was transferring career ladders entirely. I've been an assistant editor for about a month now. When I think about my last job, I have to cover my face and shake off the feeling that this might all be a dream and I'll be back in that place where I know what I want but it's always just out of my reach. Being an assistant editor is not exactly glamorous or prestigious, but it makes me happy and I am good at it and I am beyond grateful that my boss gave me this opportunity. Not to mention all those ANTM editors who took time out of their days to listen to me, answer my dumb questions, offer me guidance, and generally take an interest in me when they didn't have to.

And then -- I'm not sure if this counts as "thankful" because I'm the one who made it happen -- I finally got LASIK surgery and don't wear glasses anymore! And you know what, I really AM thankful for that because, well, who isn't thankful for steady employment these days? I can't believe I was able to save up enough money to make it happen, especially since I was unemployed for the month directly following the surgery. So maybe I didn't eat three meals a day or do anything fun outside of the house during that period (that period, in fact, lasting until this very moment) (and probably continuing until the new year), but it did allow me to relax and heal properly and edit my documentary about mine and Dan's trip to Oregon earlier this year.

So this Thanksgiving, I am possibly more thankful than I have ever been before. The whole year has been one journey of self-discovery after another. Dan and I are stronger than ever. We have the same last name now. We are family. I'm at Dan's parents' house now and everyone under this roof is my family too. I'm thankful for my wonderful friends, with whom I've been through so much this year. Thankful for the cats and how cute they are even though they're too stupid to know it's Thanksgiving today. Thankful for all the growing up I've done this year, and all the valuable lessons I've learned the hard way -- the best way.

I'm glad there is a holiday devoted to just feeling thankful, because if I didn't get to write something like this once a year my heart would probably explode with all the love and gratitude I feel for these incredible people in my life. Have a great day, everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!