Curiosity

For curiosity. I am thankful for the ability to ask questions; to wonder. This is why I am able to fantasize and swim in my thoughts. This is why I am able to create movies in my mind; why I am able to inhabit a million different characters and gain the perspectives of a million more. I am able to see sounds and taste colors because I am able to ask "what if?". I can fly because I ask "why not?". I can step into another person's shoes to see what they see. To see what they see enables you to crawl deeper into your connection with the world. Curiosity is why anyone teaches and why anyone learns. Curiosity drives adventures and new experiences. Curiosity is what opens your mind and body to the world. We are not robots, but organic beings with a drive to question "what if?". We are driven to experiment. What sort of film will I create as I dream tonight? What sort of characters will I inhabit? What new perspectives will I be opened up to? Who knows. Perhaps I will not dream at all. But I am thankful to ask these questions. I am thankful that our minds are sponges and all they want to do is observe and see what happens and what they can make of it. So goodnight. Thank you for my sense of wonderment and may I never cease to be amazed.

Wind

For the sound of the wind blowing outside. It gives me comfort that although I'm stuck inside and my mind is filled with various stresses and preoccupations, the world moves on; nature lives; everything exists as it always has regardless of my ever fluttering emotions. It is solid and all powerful. We are in nature's hands. We cannot control the sun and the sun cannot help but rise. When the wind talks with the trees, we can only listen and be comforted by their conversation. So thank you, wind, nature, for constantly reminding me that I am a concrete part of the world, as integral as the waves, or the sunrise, or the breeze. We are all interconnected. Thank you for blowing and keep communicating with the trees. Maybe in my dreams I may join the conversation.

Water

For water. This incredible substance gives and sustains life. Without it, I could not exist; no biological being could exist. Water is our life source. It is our source of life. Water is a part of us and exists in every cell of our body. I am thankful that I have water in such an abundance. All I have to do is turn a knob and it pours out. I don't have to walk for miles and fill a bucket. I don't have to drink from puddles or contaminated rivers. I don't have to worry about not having enough water. It is all around me. As I write, I not only have a glass of water right next to me, but it is chilled with ice cubes. I am lucky to have this access to such a necessity to life. Thank you for powering my body. Thank you for refreshing me after a long run. Thank you for cleaning my body and sanitizing cities. Thank you for raining down upon us and quenching the earth. Thank you.

New Acquaintances

For new acquaintances. What a pleasure it is to get to know new people. An infinite number of experiences and life stories and we are able to share them with others. We are all one and I am grateful to get to know others around me. Let us all dance and experience what it is we are looking for. Be safe. Be courteous. Be you. Thank you.

Applause

For applause. Applause is a nonverbal communicator of appreciation. Thousands can show their gratitude by letting their hands meet and echoing across a stadium. It is a release of energy; a transference of energy; from the mind and heart, to the body, through space, to another heart and mind. We spread our joy and peace through applause. So thank you for thanking others. Thank you for letting them know that they, too, are a wonderful addition to creation. Thanks and keep on clapping.

Books

For books. I am thankful that every person is able to communicate their thoughts and allow others to read them. I am thankful that we are allowed to read them. We have little to no censors to worry about. We are free to read as we choose. We are free to write what we choose. Countless ideas and sentiments have been expressed, adopted and understood through books. They teach us math, Hinduism, Japanese, astronomy, meditation, music theory. They are little pockets of knowledge, ready to be passed on to anyone willing to take a glance. They connect millions to an author and an author to millions. Thank you for this connection.

Music

For music. You get me high. You take me places nothing else can. Through music, I can express myself in sadness, joy, anger, redemption, playfulness, eagerness, anything. It is an unlimited resource. Music creates me. I can only hope to get to know it better. I can only hope to keep it close to my heart and let it merge with me. Music is the fundamental moving force. We are music. The trees are music. The sun is music. I am music. Every cell is music. Every atom in our bodies and every atom in the universe is music. A world without music is not necessarily colorless, for we live on a magnificent planet, but a facet of existence would be gone. Thank you, music, for getting me through tough times. Thank you for giving me hope when nothing else could. Thank you for intertwining with my soul and growing with it. Thank you for taking root in my body and flowing through my veins. I hope that I may express you to other people; pass you on and let you help them as you helped me; to let them dance; to open up; to be free. So be free. And thank you for freeing me.

Dictionary

For my Russian-English dictionary. It has lent me assistance innumerable times and has allowed me to communicate with people who have now become my friends. Without it, great effort would be spend finding words and phrases. This is my little thank you to a big book.

Indoor Plumbing

For indoor plumbing. I am thankful that every time I have to go, I don't have to walk outside and find somewhere safe to relieve myself. I am thankful to have the privacy and convenience of a bathroom a few feet from my room; not only close, but shared by only one other person. This is an amenity some do not have the luxury of. Going to the bathroom is a biological necessity and indoor plumbing has made it an almost pleasurable experience. I don't have to be afraid of people seeing me or potentially dangerous animals sneaking up, nor do I have to deal with what would be an overwhelming odor from the forest, which people would be forced to use. So thank you. You make the world a cleaner place.

Joy

I am thankful for joy. I am thankful that there is happiness and that people can find it. I hope that throughout my life, I may bring joy into people's lives; that I may make their days brighter. I am hopeful that I, too, may find my joy and will never let it go. And just as I hope to find my joy, I hope others find theirs. I am thankful that so many people have already found theirs and that so many more will someday find their own. I am thankful for the opportunities to be joyful and the reasons to smile. May we all smile more often. Thank you.

Existence

I am thankful for this existence; this timeline. It provides us with every experience we have and will ever have. Without it, we've nothing. Anything we could possibly have and be thankful for exists solely because we exist. We are lucky to be able to experience anything at all. Good; bad; everything is a blessing and we must never cease to remember that this is all a gift. Thank you for rain. Thank you for sun. Thank you for calms. Thank you for storms. I want it all and I am grateful that I have it all. Thank you for everything.

Bed

I am thankful for this bed I have to sleep on. Without it, I would be on the ground. This provides a comfortable, warm, cushy surface and it is a joy to curl up on it. I dream and weave images upon it. It is a blessing and while I could survive on stone, These pillows and comforters are a luxury and I accept them humbly and with appreciation. Thank you.

This Pen

I am thankful for this pen, for without it, these pages would remain blank and my thoughts would have nowhere to go. However, I am able to apply them to this blank space with ease and this ink flows forth like blood. These messages of gratitude would not be possible without the writing implement. Because of the combination of this canvas and my paint brush, I am able to express my gratitude for life and find hidden joys that secretly lie all around me. So thank you for allowing me to uncover them.

These Pages

I am thankful for these pages. They allow me to write down my thoughts, my whims, my ideas, my lyrics, my brain. These pages allow me to clean out the garage and see what's inside; to spread everything out. Thank you for making me come face to face with what's going on inside. You cleanse me and keep me fresh. You are a handy guide to my insides; a paper miracle, without which my mind would be lost. So thank you.

Ceiling Fan

I am grateful for this fan spinning above my head. It allows me to sleep comfortably and makes it more pleasant. Without it, we would waste more energy on air conditioning. So instead of laying in my own sweat, unable to sleep, I am able to relax and enjoy the productions my mind is about to put on. Thank you.

My Speech

I am thankful that I get to spread the message of gratitude tomorrow. This is a powerful message and I am thankful to be a part of it. I hope it truly reaches some of the people, even one, and has a positive impact on them. I hope it enables them to find light when all is dark and I hope it resonates within them, shining outward. Furthermore, I hope that my own, personal convictions toward gratitude continue and that with time they only grow deeper and more firmly rooted. I hope just as I pass this message on to them, so they, too, will pass it on to others and that it continues to be passed along like a gift. Thank you for this opportunity.

My Breath

I am thankful for the air in my lungs. I am thankful to be able to inhale the air that swirls in abundance around me. It flows into my lungs and into my body. Through my veins, the oxygen travels into my fingertips, my toes. Each and every particle in my body receives this gift and reciprocates by doing its duty; by being the best particle it can be. My body thrives because of the oxygen it receives; because of my lungs; because the planet we live on is inhabited by creatures and entities that symbiotically flourish. We inhale from our atmosphere and exhale and feed our trees and flora. I could not live without the air in my lungs and my breath is a constant reminder that I am alive. So thank you earth. Thank you air. I love you and owe you my life.

Numero Uno (my body)

I have about a year's worth of gratitude on paper, so I need to play catch up. Here's to being thankful.

I am thankful for my body. I am able to move around and interact with my environment. I can go running, play soccer, play guitar, sing, walk to class, give a handshake, give a hug. My body's capabilities are endless and arise without a second's thought. I am able to respond, to talk. Simply to move is an amazing gift. And for this, I am thankful.