For the mouse (mice?) that continue to present me with opportunities for humility and underzstanding of my place in the universe by outsmarting me and eluding the numerous humane traps I have set for them;
For the cats outside my window at 2:13 a.m. weekday mornings, waking me up with the incessant wails of amorous torment;
For the dogs and their owners who teach me patience and anger management by not picking up the excrement that, presumably, Rex has left behind in the parks where I carefully walk barefoot;
For the postal carriers who still bring me the treasure of letters — typically from creditors offering platinum cards and dreams, and funds-seeking non-profits attempting to save an endangered ecosystem — and magazines even though the rest of the world has rushed into the transient, throw-away world of digital communication;
For the online commenters in stories about race, religion, politics, environment, crime, global affairs, education, science, sports, entertainment, food, automobiles, gardening, pets and books who remind me of the wisdom of the adage: Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt;
For the experts on social media who know better than I how to run the city, the country, the world and my life because they can link to a clever meme that shows me just how wrong and uninformed my opinion is, thereby saving me from the tedious process of critical thinking;
For the people whose policies and actions I second guess, question and oppose because I can, thanks to the foundation and promise of laws, policies and actions they took to ensure an exchange of ideas;
For the people who share their ideas, even the “wrong” ones, allowing me an opportunity to reflect on my own beliefs and adjust accordingly, if at all;
For the people who change their minds not because it is convenient, popular or safe but because the circumstances and information they process dictates they alter their own belief system, thereby setting an example of character and personal growth;
For the people whose belief system incorporates and prioritizes the needs of others over their own, not just during the holidays but every day of the year, most years of their lives;
For the people and things who need help, advocacy, attention or someone to listen, providing an opportunity to be a better person and ease the suffering of others, thereby making the world a slightly better place if only for a moment;
For these and all the rainbow sprinkles on this chocolate devil’s food donut of a planet I give thanks.
