ok, everyone's sharing what they're thankful for. this is mine-

[mopinko]

i'm starting to find the silver lining in living alone.
i never really have, until 2020. even if it was only friends that were close enough to be part of my day-to-day life.
all that ended in jan last year, and it's been tough. since june this year, i dont even have a tenant.
but right now, i am actually thankful that i went through a lot, alone. nobody to help me, but also, nobody to judge me.
i've been quite the hot mess, and i'm so grateful for the absence of side-eye, tongue clucking and i told ya so.
it's a new phase of comfort in my own skin.
free to totally fuck up, and apologize to no one.

[a kennedy]

1. Good for you...... ♥️

And have a very happy thanksgiving. 🦃

[mopinko]

2. ty

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. I love this

as a natural introvert I have been (mostly) grateful to not feel pressure to socialize over the last 18 months. But even I feel lonely sometimes. It's definitely been a long learning experience! I'm grateful, I guess, to have survived it so far.

I'm also thankful for Jill Biden.

[mopinko]

4. i'm grateful for many things

but this is the one getting me through the day.

[Walleye]

5. The Upside of Lonley

https://m.

[panader0]

15. I dig Jimmy Thackery. We used to cover this one:

[Ocelot II]

6. Covid has given me an excuse for not doing things I didn't want to do but did anyhow

because I felt obligated or wanted to be polite. Most of the time I'd rather not go anywhere or hang out with people and now I can avoid unwanted social situations without having to make excuses.

[mopinko]

7. i used to genuinely like people.

these days, not so much.

[Haggard Celine]

16. I know exactly what you mean.

I avoided a big Thanksgiving dinner today using Covid as an excuse. I’m having a small lunch with my parents today, and that’s it. The virus is terrible, but I’m going to take advantage of some aspects of it. It’s a shame I feel I have to come up with an excuse at all, but I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I hope they don’t get sick, though.

[peacefreak2.0]

8. (mopinko)

I had a friend that used to say we were all just trying to make it through the territory(Lonesome Dove). I think this past year was like that for a lot of us. If nothing else, it showed us who we really are. Most of all, I’m grateful for the peace I found in this solitude. Oh yeah. And if I have an outrageous breakfast I just might have that glass of wine that would taste dynamite with it. 😃

[mopinko]

9. yeah, i do find myself w a lot of company.

pretty much everyone i talk to says they are different than they were in 2019.
and i do have a strong sense of- didnt think i was this strong any more.

[alittlelark]

10. It sounds like you have taken the red pill.

It is bitter and hard to swallow, but you are seeing things clearly for possibly the first time.

It feels good after awhile and you can look back on life in the matrix and hug that version of you that lived in it.

Have empathy for the you that was and soar as the you that is living as Yourself.

[mopinko]

19. yeah, you could say that.

taking life straight on, w/o fear, is how i try to do it.
the plague has def caused me to look back. a.lot. the pictures arent all pretty.

trying to just sit w it. accept it. that part isnt my nature. fixing shit goes deep.
but i'm getting too old to fix everything.

[alittlelark]

22. You are on a good and healthy path

The 'fixing it' stuff is REALLY hard to offload. It's not you - it's your programming.

Look into the sky - amazing endless beauty day or night. No need or ability to fix any of it.

[ShazamIam]

11. There are some amazing benefits to deliberate hermitage. I love it more every year.

[BlueSky3]

12. Happy is the person

who enjoys their own company. I know of so many people in unhappy or abusive relationships because they are afraid to be alone.

[Goonch]

13. 🖖‍;-{)

[RainCaster]

14. Four months of sobriety

My family deserves this better version of me. They have been very patient with me.

[Fla Dem]

18. Congratulations and all the best to you.

[Tetrachloride]

20. 4 is very good. i count the time until my next personal milestone which is in 3 weeks

[ProudMNDemocrat]

17. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

Thankful this year.. for getting the COVID vaccines, Boosted, and my Flu shot too.

For staying healthy so that family and friends can put up with me awhile longer.

For the opportunity to travel, visit places new and familar to me.

For this community of like minded people who still believe this country and its ideals are worth fighting for.

[BobTheSubgenius]

21. As Tom Segura said:

"Most of life is now 'Yeah, this is OK....but F this place. Let's go home.'"

[NJCher]

23. I am thankful for Sir Oliver

A new cat I welcomed to my household last month. He is almost 7 years old. There is a story behind Oliver.





Many years ago, I accompanied a friend to an animal shelter because she wanted to adopt a cat. While getting acquainted with the cats, a rather large, affable tuxedo cat named Oliver came up to us. We were told by the shelter adoption people that Oliver was "the mayor" of the shelter. I have never seen such a personality in a cat--he was totally in charge of everything. What confidence!

My friend found a cat that day whom she named Buster. I could not stop thinking of Oliver, however. I already had three cats, though, and was pretty sure the RG would not want me adopting another.

But since I could not get Oliver out of my mind--he had totally charmed me with his outgoing, friendly personality--I called back to the shelter and said I wanted to come out and adopt him. The woman answering the phone said he had just been adopted and had left the shelter with his new hooman 30" before I called.

I have never forgotten him.

After my brother picked up his cat whom I was babysitting for a while, I had room for a new cat in my life, so I went to St. Hubert's. The cat I had in mind hissed at me so the person taking me around said, "Let me introduce you to this guy." He left and came back with a cat they called Garfield." I was told Garfield was a friendly, upbeat guy, always ready for a good time.

It wasn't long when I realized this was Oliver in Garfield clothing. I was being given a second chance. No, it wasn't the original Oliver, but his personality was just like his. I changed his name from Garfield to Oliver.

And so far we have lived happily ever after, other than the fact that he wants to go outside and he can't.

[littlemissmartypants]

24. You're now officially a loner, mopinko. ❤

Welcome to the club.

[childfreebychoice]

25. Hubby and I only had very small circle of friends,

When we came out as atheists, we lost some, then the trump thing we lost some more. The hardest to understand r med professional friends who are antivax/anti mask...ditched them too. Strangely, by losing them we feel as though a weight has been lifted. Most grateful that our family, and remaining friends, r in good health, and every month we get more and more contacts about how to become expats. Stay safe

[calimary]

26. Works for me, mopinko!

Good to hear the progress you’ve made!

And Happy Thanksgiving, btw!

[Turbineguy]

27. As Steve Martin put it:

"I am grateful that there is no such thing as a rectal barometer!"

[IronLionZion]

28. Thankful for vaccines, infrastructure, COVID relief

an improving economy, good jobs, Trump gone from office, and hope that we have more good things ahead of us.

[Joinfortmill]

29. The secret of living alone: It keeps getting better.

[slightlv]

30. I've gone the opposite way

After being much the loner, hubby and I are in the midst of "rediscovering" each other since my retirement. It's a process, starting with rekindling our friendship, much like it was when we first met. We just celebrated our 34th anniversary, but much of life had become "perfunctory." We're changing that now; starting new projects together; playing together with our 4-legged "babies"... etc.

We're both Pagans, and we've been blown away by our chosen "family"... although most in our group have been together working as a group for over 25 years (we're now a 3 generation group!) we couldn't be closer if we were actually blood. I'm so thankful to have them in my life.

And I'm thankful for this DU "family." I've been around since before Jr. was elected, tho I was a silent reader. Only signed up recently to make my voice heard (which may be good or bad, as the case may be!... lol...) But regardless of the mood I'm in, I can find peace here when I need it worst, and that's something that's hard to come by these days. So, thank you everyone here. I wish you all a joyous, serene Thanksgiving Day, no matter how you decide to celebrate it. I raise a glass to honor you all!

[lambchopp59]

31. I'm thankful in my solitude for the great philosophical words:

Unsure where I heard these words to live by, but it goes:
"The white zone is for passenger loading and unloading only. There is no parking in the white zone."
Funny part is, after I take my prescription medication, the other words of living become more meaningful:
"Do not exit the vehicle until the bus comes to a full and complete stop."
It's always nice to know somebody cares. Even if the great philosopher is a great unknown.

[Skittles]

32. "the only thing worse than being alone is wishing you were"

I too absolutely enjoy solitude.....I feel sorry for people who cannot stand their own company.

[Joinfortmill]

33. 👍