I guess time flies when you are having— some fun? It is hard to believe that 2021 is almost over. This year was definitely a lot more social than 2020, but that is not really saying much since we all spent the vast majority of last year quarantined to our homes and our ever-shrinking social circles. So, with all of that still fresh in mind, I am very thankful that I got to have some fun this year. Do you think that before the pandemic we took a lot fun and everyday experiences for granted?

Since late summer, the science and marvel of vaccines has allowed many of us a chance to re-enter our shared social spaces. We are returning to our physical offices and spending quality time with our friends and loved ones again. Of course, the delta variant certainly put the breaks on a lot of social opportunities such as music festivals and most community fairs, but I am still thankful that I got to have some fun in ’21, and that I got to enjoy another year of life in good health.

Which brings me and the calendar to the point of this post— it’s Thanksgiving time— and time for giving thanks. Considering how chaotic, disheartening, and truly bizarre life became over the past couple of years, perhaps, we all should take some time to really think about what we can be thankful for despite it all.

I am three years and one pandemic into married life and I am more thankful than ever for my husband. I am thankful to have someone who is supportive of me and my ideas and who also helps me keep evolving as a person. Each day with him is a real blessing. I look forward to so many more days together to come. After a year confined to our home, we hit the road this summer and travelled to see our families. We Airbnb’d our way from California to the midwest and then all of the way down to the deep south and then back home again. We spent some much-needed quality time with our families and we took note to appreciate the adventure of the open road along the way.

I still look forward to returning regularly to the San Diego Zoo, or enjoying the San Diego County fair and celebrating Pride once again, but I am thankful that I got to experience some excellent restaurants and take in some of our country’s best sites this summer. I am glad that the beaches and trails are open again, and that our boardwalks are back to bustling with families and beachgoers.

I used to take these simple experiences for granted, or I would low-key avoid busy public spaces, but I appreciate them today. I am also thankful to see my colleagues again. I think that remote work is the future for my field in particular, but I do appreciate connecting with my team in real life when we need to come together. It feels good to just feel good around people again— and I look forward to it remaining that way!

What are you thankful for as we kick-off a more typical American holiday season?