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Five things I'm thankful for, what's on your list?

This of course is the weekend we literally start counting our blessings and remember what we’re thankful for. I think we can all say we’re happy for many similar things—the family and friends we have, homes to sleep and make lives in and so forth. Which is why I wanted to put together a more unusual thankful list citing the things I’m grateful for aside from my husband and children, my friends, extended family and more. Here are five things I’m happy to have in my life.

Five things I'm thankful for, what's on your list? Getty

This of course is the weekend we literally start counting our blessings and remember what we’re thankful for. I think we can all say we’re happy for many similar things—the family and friends we have, homes to sleep and make lives in and so forth. Which is why I wanted to put together a more unusual thankful list citing the things I’m grateful for aside from my husband and children, my friends, extended family and more. Here are five things I’m happy to have in my life.

1. I’m thankful…for a job that I love to do. I so often hear friends bitterly complain that they can’t stand what they’re doing, but continue to do it for the pay cheque and security. And every time I hear that I remember to be truly appreciative that I get to live my dream every day, which is writing from my home. While I love the actual act of writing and the fact that I can give a voice to words, I also love the freedom my job gives me—I get to go out and meet new people, and I also get to come back to my home and work quietly from there.

2. I’m thankful…that my hobbies give me comfort and balance. I love to cook from scratch, and often simmer big pots of food on the weekend, or bake up trays of cookies. Turning on the radio and getting my mixer out gives me such a comfortable, accomplished feeling that I can create something out a handful of ingredients. (Of course, I’m choosing to ignore the fact that my children turn up their noses at just about everything I make.)

3. I’m thankful…that I still have the ability to make new friends. In fact, just last night I had a new circle of friends over—some I knew, but perhaps not as well as I know them today. Others were new to me and I look forward to getting to know. And then, as my daughter goes on in school, I continue to meet and develop new parent friends. I don’t know if it’s my innate nosiness, but I really do look forward to finding more out about new friends and connecting on new levels.

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4. I’m thankful…I’m a Torontonian now. This year marked the year that I’ve lived longer in Toronto than anywhere else in my life—20 years this year in fact. Many people across this country do love to bash our city and those of us who call it home, but I say they just don’t know. I’m thankful for the opportunities it offers: my kids can go to the Ontario Science Centre whenever they want because it’s a 10-minute drive away; meanwhile I can go see a Toronto Film Festival movie and sit in the same theatre as Robert De Niro. Yet I’m also getting to know the small side of Toronto, one that many people don’t know exists—such as running into a friend at the grocery store and stopping to chat for 10 minutes, or the impromptu Friday evening pizza and movie nights with friends.  

5. I’m thankful…for chocolate. Need I elaborate?

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What are your more unusual things you’re thankful for this weekend?

Want more happiness news? Follow me on Twitter @AstridVanDenB

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