In the USA, we are officially in “the holiday season.”. No need to mention which one because the ‘the’ takes care of the definition. Our official kick-off starts with turkey day and apexes with the jolly old man in red and concludes with a whole new year to start all over again. Before all that though, we set apart a day to give thanks for, well, all that and everything leading up to all that. I found a gratitude writing prompt to write a thank you speech for my greatest success. In true fashion, I modified it to make it more me. Here is a thank you speech for my year.

This is a surprise. I wasn’t expecting any such honor for simply making it to another holiday season. But it wasn’t that much of a surprise since I am the only honoree here so I did prepare a little something.

First of all, I want to express gratitude to my job. It has been challenging and leveled-me-up this year as far as ability. Without it I am very much aware I wouldn’t have been able to do anything else this year like eat and basically live. So, thank you for providing that necessity. It also stepped up and allowed me to have the fun diversions I had this year. It was a banner year for trips as I literally traveled all the way around the world. So, again, thank you for providing the means for me to accomplish that goal.

I am by no means a career oriented person so I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the fans – er, family and friends, that accompanied me on such diversions this year. While my job provided the means, the people supplied the why. Thank you to all who worked hard this year to strengthen our connection. No [woman] is an island, and I appreciate all who joined me on my ride for a mile or 1,000 miles and more. Thank you!

No self-respecting thank you speech would be complete without acknowledging a deep gratitude to God and His Son for providing me the opportunities to live this life. I don’t always make the correct choice and more often than not, I learn the hard way. But because of God’s plan, I am able to correct and grow. I can move forward safe in the knowledge that I am loved more than I can comprehend and I am never completely alone.

Finally, I am thankful I am me and though my life is far from perfect and not really following plan A that I outlined for myself, it is my life and I am still here. Sure, I am still making mistakes but I also still have the opportunity to learn from them – or not – and continue on. Every morning when I open my eyes and see the sun in the sky (eventually because it is winter and the sun is lazy right now) I know I have that to be thankful for.

So, thank you for this award of seeing another day. I will do my best to live up to the honor that is just being alive.