Thankfulness makes life worth living

We’re all thankful for big, good things. For instance: this year I was in two weddings for people I adore, I earned a promotion, and I found money for bills I didn’t expect. These things all made me happy, but if they were the only things I felt thankful for, I wouldn’t be a happy person.

For every life-changing event there are innumerable common ones. Anything which makes us stop and think, “Huh, that’s neat,” deserves a little thankfulness, in my mind. If we don’t acknowledge the things that buoy us up through the day, can we fully appreciate the things that change our lives?

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are everyday things I’m thankful for:

• A pretty sunset — as most of them are.

• A vividly orange tree on the corner of Main and Ninth streets. (The leaves are gone now, but the show will return next fall).

• An evening spent on a video call with my mom.

• A purring cat on my lap.

• A coworker bringing homemade soup for the office.

• The seasonal return of chocolates oranges, the ones you open by banging against the table. They’re at Aldi. Get one.

Then there are all the people who make life better just by existing in it. It goes beyond having a good time together — there’s such security in knowing we have each other’s backs in life. To all my friends, please know how thankful I am for you, too.

Samantha Tucker is the assistant editor of the Daily American Republic.