The other day, I wrote a post about 50 things that make me happy and I thought there was no way I could come up with 50, but I did with relative ease. So, since it’s Thanksgiving day in America, I thought I’d try it again with 50 things that I’m thankful for in my life. Some of these things will probably be the same as things that make me happy.

1. My dog.
2. My cat.
3. My friends.
4. This blog and the fact that I can write my deepest darkest here.
5. You who read and comment on it.
6. NaBloPoMo and Team Tiny Pepper for making me post every day in November.
7. I’m relatively healthy, all things considered.
8. My job–even though they don’t pay me enough, at least I have one.
9. I’m thankful that my family lives in another state so I don’t have to do anything today except cook pies and turkey with my sister.
10. I’m thankful for the homemade pies and turkey I’ll eat later. I want some now.
11. Little white pills–it would really suck to live in an era when antidepressants didn’t exist.
12. Contacts–it would suck if I had to wear glasses all the time.
13. I can spell with the exception of a few words that I always spell wrong. Damn you, denouement.
14. I can put sentences together.
15. I know how to read.
16. I have hot water.
17. And electricity.
18. And THE INTERNET. I’m really thankful for the internet.
19. What little sleep I do get.
20. The “winters” in California.
21. My parents are still alive. We don’t have a great relationship, but it’s better than it used to be.
22. My grandmother is dead. Is that wrong? If you think that’s wrong, you didn’t know her. She was an evil woman. Go read this.
23. My parents are still together. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in September.
24. Music.
25. There are so many great books I haven’t read.
26. Art. Thanks for making art, everyone.
27. I can make art, too. That’s neat.
28. Digital music libraries. All of my music in one place and I can take it with me.
29. I’m tall for a girl. I like being tall.
30. My new-to-me California king size bed.
31. I’m not homeless. I love my huge new living space with walk-in closet.
32. I’ve made 76 sales on Redbubble. Most of them stickers.
33. You all bought enough of my stuff on Redbubble that I was able to buy some much-needed art supplies. I funded art with art. So cool.
34. My new-to-me iPad. My sister bought a new one and sold me her old one on the cheap on a payment plan. Dude, iPads are rad. I have an e-reader, which I haven’t used yet!
35. Indoor plumbing.
36. Modern health care. Even though I don’t have any health insurance, at least I probably won’t die from scarlet fever or an infection.
37. Imagination. Where would I be without it?
38. Sense of humor. I wouldn’t be alive without it.
39. Seasons. Even thought California really only has two: summer and fall.
40. Having a brain that still works most of the time.
41. I live in a country with free speech. Nobody will kill me or lock me up for dissenting.
42. Stars. It’s been raining lately and the night sky is so clear. Stars remind me how small and fleeting I am.
43. There is no war going on in my country.
44. Diversity. There are several hundred different cultures right outside my door.
45. Differing opinions. I like that we can have them and not kill each other over them.
46. I’m thankful that I can take a step back sometimes and see all the things I’m thankful for.
47. I’m not in an abusive relationship anymore.
48. And I never will be again.
49. I am still goddamn alive.
50. And I have a will to live.