FIVE THINGS LINDSAY IS THANKFUL FOR:
1. I am thankful for my independence. Not as an American. Although I am. I am thankful that I was still single, without kids, OR a husband, at the age of 32. I got laid off, from a job that I hated, when the economy went south two years ago. And one night, sitting on my beautiful deck, overlooking downtown Austin, TX, having a glass of wine, I got to say to myself…”What is it you really want to do with your life?” And within a span of two glasses of wine, I got to figure out that I wanted to go to culinary school. And not only go, but move to New York City to do it. The best city in the world, outside of maybe Paris, to cook in. Without that “independence”, I couldn’t have done it. Lots of people are always asking, “When are you getting married?” “Who are you dating?” “Don’t you want kids?” But because I was SINGLE and KIDLESS(that’s a word, by the way), I got to just think about me. How often does that happen?!?! (And it has been the best thing I have ever done with my life.)
1. I am thankful for my independence. Not as an American. Although I am. I am thankful that I was still single, without kids, OR a husband, at the age of 32. I got laid off, from a job that I hated, when the economy went south two years ago. And one night, sitting on my beautiful deck, overlooking downtown Austin, TX, having a glass of wine, I got to say to myself…”What is it you really want to do with your life?” And within a span of two glasses of wine, I got to figure out that I wanted to go to culinary school. And not only go, but move to New York City to do it. The best city in the world, outside of maybe Paris, to cook in. Without that “independence”, I couldn’t have done it. Lots of people are always asking, “When are you getting married?” “Who are you dating?” “Don’t you want kids?” But because I was SINGLE and KIDLESS(that’s a word, by the way), I got to just think about me. How often does that happen?!?! (And it has been the best thing I have ever done with my life.)
2. I am completely and utterly thankful for my “chosen family”. Meaning my friends. NYC is a hard city. Really, really hard. It’s fast paced, expensive, and completely narcissistic. So when you find people who love you and want the best for you, and think about you before themselves, it sometimes blows you away. I have spent the last two Thanksgivings and the last two Christmas’ with my “chosen family”. And have had such a sweet and inspiring time. I spent last Christmas with a shaman, two lesbian couples, and one holy, blessed man from Nigeria. I learned so much and felt such love from them. What you can learn from others if you just stay open and receptive will ALWAYS blow you away. I am so thankful to be able to call them friends. And my views have changed so much about what makes this world go around. And for that I am truly grateful.
3. I am thankful for public transportation. And there is a selfish reason for this. When I moved to New York, I was about 50 pounds overweight. And I thought I would never make it in a city where you have to walk everywhere. But being here has turned me into an “active” person. I walk all the time. And being in a profession where I am on my feet 8 to 12 hours a day also keeps me moving. And in the span of two year, I have dropped 55 pounds. I haven’t EVER been as healthy as I am now. Clothes shopping has never been as fun. And I haven’t felt this good since I was in high school. And I’m 34 years old. Now this may seem like a shallow “thankfulness”. But when you have been overweight for a good span of your life, it really isn’t. And I will never go back to my old ways.
4. I am thankful for families that adopt. My older sister recently adopted two kids from Ethiopia. And watching what they go through has made me realize what it takes to adopt…from anywhere. These are kids that are marginalized. Left behind, forgotten, abandoned, beaten, starved. The traumas that they have faced in their short life spans, will be more than what any of us will ever have to deal with in our own lives. I have watched them be terrified, angry, defiant, giddy, loving, hateful, and down right mean. But then to watch, when they are really starting to realize that they have a loving family forever, whether they are good or bad, happy or sad, mean or nice. And to see their little spirits heal, and start to transform…it makes me see what is really important in this world. And to see that one family can make a difference. I cannot put into words what this has done to me. And to hear two screaming, adorable voices over the phone asking about “Nudea York” and telling me that they “love me more”...it’s what the Lord wants the world to be, and it’s who I want to be in this crazy world.
5. Finally, the one everyone always says, I am thankful for my family. I was born into what I consider to be the absolute perfect family. My parents are the best, most supportive (emotionally, and maybe more importantly, financially) people I could ever ask for. My dad hung the moon in my eyes. My mom, she made the stars. And they are still happily married after a hundred years. My siblings…well let’s just say that if you mess with them, you will for sure…get the horns. I would not be who I am without my faith or my family. I am who I am because of them. I have my independence, because of them. I can be completely ok with spending Christmas with my “chosen family”, because of my real family. They were the ones who more excited about me becoming healthy than I was. They gave me two darling Ethiopians and three adorable Texas nieces and nephews. They are the reason I have made it in this world. Them and God.
Lindsay, the Kings, the Hatmakers, and the Zagers. Together we are going to make this world a better place. For everyone.
Lindsay, the Kings, the Hatmakers, and the Zagers. Together we are going to make this world a better place. For everyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment