Thank. Full.

I give thanks to a full and complete life. I don’t say thank-you enough, but I do feel I appreciate life’s everyday miracles. And yes, everyday is a miracle, filled with new and exciting things. Sometimes, the worst part about a day is that it has to end.

I am thankful for my mother. She is the best thing to ever happen in my life. Her selflessness is appreciated. She is my hero and sets a very high, nearly unreachable bar for the rest of us shmucks.

I am thankful for my dad. I know all I do is talk bad about the man, but people forget, he’s my dad! That’s the relationship all good sons and fathers have! And even though I give the man grief, I am more like him than not. He may never know it, but I love him so much for being a strong man, protector, provider, and leader in my life.

I am thankful for my sisters. And also, I am thankful for being the youngest and only boy. Especially the only boy part. My sisters have stood by me when I was at my worst. I have pushed them away in a million small different ways and they have always came back with a hug and love. I am a spoiled, entitled brat. And I thank them for that 🙂

I am thankful for my nieces and nephews. They’re innocence is a constant reflection on what’s wrong with me and the world. There they are, uncorrupted and happy. I envy them. And that is one of many reasons why I love them.

I am thankful for my country. I live in the greatest society ever conceived by man. A brave new idea, that freedom, not government, is to be trusted and in charge. This roll of the die may have created anarchy and disorder, but instead, when man is left and released of his shackles of government, kings, and dictators, he is free to grow himself and his community to unimaginable heights.

I am thankful to our veterans. There are a lot of men who died a not-so-pleasant death just so I could be here, typing this for your eyes. From the man who fell to a musket under the British several hundred years ago, and to the kid who fell today in Afghanistan, I thank-you for my freedom.

I am thankful for being Mexican. No, not political but ethnically. Being a minority in this country is pretty cool. Everyday is like one big episode of, “Man, white people are weird!” We are a fun, family orientated, patriotic folk that enjoy a good time. I said it once, and I’ll say a million more times: Everyone wishes they could be Latino. And every Latino wishes they could be Mexican.

I am thankful I am good looking. Sorry for the vanity people, but I am a good looking man. Going through life can be hard enough, walking around with a mug like Sam Cassell doesn’t help.

I am thankful for my Kindle. It’s a small bundle of kick-ass.

I am thankful for my sense of humor. I crack myself up all day. I hate smiling but I can’t help it when my inner monologue makes a witty observeation.

I am thankful for spell check. U wuld knot wont 2 reed dis iff i hadent yoosedit.

I am thankful for my hemophilia. And all the pain and suffering that came with it. I have an outlook on life that I wouldn’t exchange for the world. And every friend I know is somehow related. Which leads me to…

I am thankful for my friends. I only surround myself with nearly equally awesome people as me (sorry, but science has proved that no one is on the same level of awesome as me). They get my grief but that’s only because I don’t know how to express myself better.

I am thankful for being a man. Being a dude is great. We can still make babies at 90 and we know how to drive 😉

I am thankful for women. Holy moly do I love chicks. They are the most frustrating creatures on earth but man, are they fun to… well you know. The more girly a girl, the better. A chick who watches sports, drinks beer, curses, etc., might do it for some guys, but not me. I like a women who embraces her femininity. Skirts, lace, perfume, makeup, the color pink, wine, and all that other crap that I don’t understand I love. I don’t get it, but keep doing it ladies.

I am thankful for Capitalism. There is always someone out there, waiting to make something better and cheaper. And we reap the rewards. Fabulous.

I am thankful I love to read.

I am thankful for being a Republican. Just means I’m not stupid and aspire to be a man of good character. Society owes you nothing. The reason you suck is not because of what has happened to you, it’s because you suck. And just because you suck, doesn’t mean the rest of us need to suck. It means you need to stop sucking.

I am thankful for the internet. The amount of knowledge and growth at our fingertips is amazing. What’s even more amazing, is how many people waste it on shallow connections via Twitter and facebook.

I am thankful for our immigrants, regardless of their current legal status. Funny that we live on soil that did not belong to us with people angry that some people are speaking an Iberian language from a peninsula 2000 miles away instead of an island language that is equally as far. If you are in America, and not Native American, you are the product of illegal immigration, somewhere down the line. Don’t let your xenophobia get in the way that they are just like you. It’s an insult to God, American history, and your ancestors.

I am thankful for Harrison Ford. Dude was Han Solo and Indiana Jones. C’mon now. That’s pretty awesome.

I am thankful we live in peaceful times. You may think I’m crazy but I just think you don’t appreciate history. Some might say the end is near, with the wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. That’s just selective reasoning. Sure there’s AIDS, but that had nothing on the plague. And there may be places on the globe that are currently in states of war, but compared to conquerers past, that’s nothing. The slaughter of millions and enslavement of more would happen on a yearly basis, not anymore. Just because you’re a negative Nancy doesn’t mean I have to forget history and have your irresponsible appreciation of time’s past. Those victims deserve better.

I am thankful I have rhythm. When I see other people “dance”, boy am I ever thankful.

I am thankful I take risks.

I am thankful I face my fears. The other side of that scary hill is pure happiness.

I am thankful I knock on doors. Most people are so scared to ask… anything! Are you looking to hire someone new? Will you go out with me? Where’s the restroom?! These and many more questions have people petrified. You want more out of life? Then get it! It starts by asking ’cause nothing is going to magically fall on your lap.

I am thankful for my Kindle. I already said that? Well I’ll say it again. It’s that sick.

I am thankful I found myself back to my Catholic faith. I am no longer an angry man, and that is a gift attainable, only through God and his one true church.

I am thankful for Jesus Christ. No one has ever been more ridiculed and shamed, tortured and suffered more than Him. And He did it all for you and I. It is a debt I am trying to pay yet will never be able to. But I am trying.

And finally, I am thankful for me. The Dali Lama once said, “If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love others.” True dat. I’m done with second guessing myself. I’m done not believing in me. It CAN be done. You want to stop me? Good luck. Playing it safe sucks and I know anything is possible. Why? God is on my side. America is on my side. There is nothing I can’t do. And for that, I am truly thankful.

What are you thankful for? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear.