- My family. We are not the closest family. We talk infrequently, visit even less, and mostly keep tabs on one another thru the family phone tree. Yet, I know they love me and I love them. It is a weird thing, family. You can forgive almost anything because you know that if you ever needed anything they would be there (and vice versa). I am especially grateful for the legions of women in my family who raised me, loved me, nurtured me and empowered me. I consider myself lucky to be raised by a tribe of women, all of whom have more pluck, courage, spirit and determination than most of the men in their lives (and I think the men would say the same thing).
- My friends. Being an only child who has lived most of my life away from home I am always grateful of the family my friends have helped me create. Whether it someone from childhood, college, campaigns, Australia, New York, London, work or just the neighborhood, I am always amazed at the diverse, interesting, determined, amazing (an overused word, by me, I know) group that I am able to call my friends, my family away from home. Many of them have picked me up when I've down, most have been there to celebrate the milestones, and a few have been there through it all. I am blessed and I hope, like with my family, that I repay them in kind.
- My life. It was always the case that I was happy with life. There were times that I simply threw up my hands and gave up. But it wasn't for very long. Thanks to the aforementioned friends and family, I was always able to step back, take stock and move forward. And I have had some amazing experiences, fabulous jobs and worked with/for/in unique places and people. This time in Paris has often reminded me of that, how lucky I am to be able to do things I do. As I wander around, trying to figure out what is next, I also just remind myself to take it all in and breathe.
- My country. Wow, I am the last person who I ever thought would write that. Seriously. But as I have been lucky enough to travel around the globe, I am always reminded that America is a great country. We have our problems, like all countries. We don't do enough to tackle poverty at home, or illiteracy, or unemployment, or health care. We have, probably unfortunately, given the world McDonalds, Starbucks, and WalMart. We are responsible for more than 1/3 of the world's global emissions. We have racism, guns and people who shoot people who don't agree with them. Yes, we have all of that. But we are constantly growing, evolving, and becoming a better country. And, especially as a woman, I'm glad I was born here. I'm not at risk of fistula; I was not only allowed to go to school but encouraged to; I wasn't married at 9 and am not punished for still not being married. It's not bad to be an American and it took being away from home again to realize that.
There are many, mostly superficial things, that I'm also grateful for but these are the big ones. Tomorrow, at a friend's house in Paris, we'll celebrate these and more.
