I started writing this post on Monday October 14 but due to my lack of planning  an excess of tryptophan in my body  a slight delay it’s a few days late. Oops.

As I sit here typing away on my laptop in my childhood bedroom, the smell of seasoned turkey wafts through the house and my husband is hanging out beside me catching up on some assigned reading. Soon my aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandparents will be coming over to share in our Thanksgiving dinner. It’s been a wonderfully relaxing day so far. All week in fact, as I’ve been visiting my family in Toronto for the last little while. 

I had a laundry list of things to do and people to see, but I have done none of those things (laundry included) and seen not nearly as many friends as I would have liked to. Hopefully my absence in blogland hasn’t been noted as things have been quiet around here as well. I’m one of those writers who can’t force myself to write. It feels too mechanical and homework-like if I make myself churn out a post when I’m not in the mindset to do so. But I don’t mean to turn this into an article about blogging and productivity or my lack thereof (we'll save that for another day). 

Goodbye Toronto

Since today has been on the quiet side, and of course considering that we Canadians are celebrating Thanksgiving, it’s prompted me to reflect upon all that is good in my life. The obvious thing that comes to mind is the fact that I’m much happier these days after quitting my job. The second obvious thing is that I am so grateful to have enough savings to fall back on to take a bit of a career break before going to travel through Central America. But those things are both related to money and as important as money can be, there is much more for which I am thankful.  

Year after year I am most grateful for the people in my life. I don’t always show it, especially when I retreat somewhere alone in search of quiet time, but I always feel it. I read somewhere that relationships with family and friends are one of the biggest influencers on a person’s happiness. In fact, you could probably argue that almost everything we do to improve the relationships in our lives also serves a role in the pursuit of our happiness. 

This past weekend my mom celebrated her 60th birthday and it was so heartwarming to see friends and family gather together to make it a special event. Now only a few days later, it’s awesome to have another delicious dinner in the works that will be shared with great company and great wine (and #letsbehonest, rum too, because what can I say -- we’re Trinidadian).

Our Thanksgiving dinner

I’m thankful to have time, flexibility, and a wonderful support system that encourages me to pursue my desires and passions.

I’m thankful that I have two beautiful rings on my finger even though one of them snagged my favourite scarf in three different places. 

I’m thankful that I have a husband who loves me, takes care of me, and somehow finds me most attractive as soon as I wake up in the morning with no makeup and crazy hair. 

I’m thankful to always have enough food in my fridge even if it means I want to eat it all the time and accidentally put on 10 lbs. of newlywed love weight this year (thanks for pointing that out, grandpa).

I'm thankful to my uncle for generously giving me his 55 - 200mm lens for my Nikon DSLR. 

I’m thankful to be in a much better headspace than I was at this time last year, to have this site as my creative outlet, and to be a part of such an engaging blogging community.

What are you thankful for? 

A day in the city with a fabulous friend

Sunset in Toronto

Practising perspective

A peek at my family's home

Failing at taking outfit pictures

My lovely husband, always happy to smile for photos