In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this year has given me a lot to reflect on and so much to be grateful for. This year has truly been one for the books – I’ve experienced tremendous grief and loss with my grandmother’s passing in April and the passing of another friend this year. In addition, a better part of this year has been plagued with a what-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong ping-pong match between my house, my car, my health, and my sanity:

• Garbage disposal/dishwasher – replaced.
• HVAC – required major work.
• Car engine – replaced. +One very expensive month of Uber/Lyft to get to and from work
• Locked out of my house and dislocated three ribs after jumping fence. (Yep.)
• Refrigerator Leak
• Garage door – replaced.
• Water heater – replaced.
• Car – now needs a new throttle body and oxygen sensors. +One month of Uber/Lyft to get to and from work

I look at that list now and I’m actually proud of it. There have been moments where I thoroughly question why on earth I have a house and others where it takes everything and a glass of wine to keep me from throwing in the towel. Still, even though these things have occurred back-to-back, I have been able to figure things out and for that, truly, I am grateful.

Just like there have been difficulties, this year has also given me some wonderful moments. I spent a lovely week basking in the sun with my family in Mexico, I spent the most fantastic week with some of my best friends that was full of music and concerts and more fun than I had had in a very long time, I witnessed one of my best friends get married to the love of her life, I had the opportunity to speak in front of hundreds about social media, I started tackling new projects – I want to learn Mandarin! – and have made several new connections and a lot of great memories.

The more I reflect on it, the more I appreciate the ebb and flow of life – all of it. It’s a gorgeous thing, full of twists and turns and opportunity and potential. It’s a precious gift, each day – not everyone gets the chance to live out a brand new one. I am grateful.

• I am grateful I know how to fix a lot of things for myself now! I am seriously a jack of all trades and I will not shy from rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty!

• I am grateful for people in my life, my family and my friends who, like my aunt, bent over backward to provide me support in every way she could. She’s my angel!

• I am grateful for the tangible – the roof over my head. The food on my table. The family and friends that love me. The job that allows me to solve these problems.

• I am grateful for the lessons – this year has been a lesson in money management, a lesson in self-reliance, a lesson in humility to accept help when it’s offered, and a lesson about the type of person I want to be for those around me when they need a helping hand.

I’m still going to throw it out to the universe that I’d be perfectly ok if we hit the pause button on the life lessons! Maybe give me a breather throughout the holidays? I am looking forward to savoring every moment I get with my family. I am excited to cook for my loved ones – this year’s contributions being mac and cheese and cranberry sauce – and I’m just ready for some carefree time building memories and being silly. I am looking forward to the laughter, which I’m already grinning at in anticipation.

What about you? What are you thankful for? Happy Thanksgiving week, friends!