Dear Journal,
With Thanksgiving approaching, I’ve been taking time to reflect on what this year held and what I’m truly grateful for, and the list keeps growing the longer I sit with it. At the very top is my family, because this year tested us in ways we didn’t anticipate, yet we moved through every challenge by staying close and supporting each other with a steadiness that deepened everything we already had. I’m grateful for Anneke, who walked beside me with strength and patience when things felt heavy, and for our kids, Jack, Hank, and Rosie, who fill our days with more energy than seems scientifically possible. I’m grateful for the life we’re building together, not as an abstract idea but as a series of ordinary moments that become something meaningful when they add up. And as I write this, Rosco is asleep on my lap, offering the kind of companionship only a small dog can give, while Beasley-Jean patrols the hallway like she owns the entire property, both of them adding warmth and humor to our home in ways I never want to take for granted.
I’m also grateful for the stability and peace of mind that comes from having steady work at Greenway Health, because the ability to support my family without constantly wondering what comes next has been one of the most significant sources of relief this year. The work gives structure to my days and offers a sense of purpose that’s hard to measure but easy to feel. Knowing that I’m contributing to something worthwhile, and that my role provides consistency for the people I love, anchors me in a way I deeply appreciate, especially after seasons of uncertainty that made every next step feel unpredictable.
Health has been another important area of gratitude, both in the progress I’ve made and in the hope that progress has brought back into my life. I’ve been losing weight, sleeping better, and addressing long-standing mental health challenges that lingered for years before I finally reached out for help. Feeling more rested and centered has changed the way I move through each day, and the difference is evident in my energy, patience, and ability to fully enjoy the moments that used to slip by unnoticed because I was too tired to experience them. I’m grateful for the improvements, for the professionals who helped me get here, and for the possibility of even better days ahead.
I’ve also come to realize the value of appreciating the everyday comforts that make life smoother, and I’ve stopped pretending that gratitude is limited to people or profound events. My 2016 Mazda CX-5 has been quietly dependable through every season, and I’m grateful for it in the same way I’m grateful for the foot massager that revives my exhausted legs after long days, the MacBook Air that keeps my work flowing, the sparkling water that keeps me hydrated and awake, and the comfortable bed that ends each night on a gentle note. These things don’t define my life, yet they contribute to it in ways that reduce stress and add ease, and I’m thankful for the difference they make.
I’m also grateful for the individuals in the world who express creativity with a boldness that makes life feel more colorful. Bands like Wind Rose, who perform metal dressed as dwarves with full commitment and zero hesitation, remind me that joy can take the shape of something wonderfully unexpected. Performance artists who turn small ideas into experiences that shift your perspective show that creativity doesn’t need scale to have impact. And figures like the Green Lady of Brooklyn, who dresses in green every single day as an expression of identity rather than a costume, demonstrate the kind of authenticity that encourages others to embrace their own quirks without apology. These people don’t know me, but they inspire me nonetheless.
As I look back on the year, I’m reminded that gratitude rarely comes from one source. It grows from a network of influences. It comes from the people who stand with you when life becomes difficult, the work that brings stability, the personal steps that move you toward better health, the small comforts that make everyday life gentler, and the unexpected sparks of creativity that make the world feel more alive. This year challenged, reshaped, and strengthened me, and I’m grateful not only for what it held but also for how it prepared my family and me for whatever lies ahead on the other side of the calendar.
Sincerely,
Your Pal,
James