6 Things I’m Thankful For

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! We’ve now been in Victoria for a year and 11 days, and I cannot believe how quickly a year has gone by. I start and end my days with three things I’m grateful for, but the year-mark had me taking some time to reflect on the year. And there’s quite a lot that I’m thankful for, but these are the big ones.

1. Being close enough to easily travel to see my family and friends (or go see Elton John in concert!)

I didn’t think I would get back to Vancouver as much as I have in the past twelve months. I’ve been back 4–5 times, and I’m grateful that it’s not far, and relatively #GetThrifty to get there and back as a foot passenger on the ferry: $18 CAD each way. (Unless you take a float plane, which is much quicker—and I LOVE it—but I digress…) The proximity has allowed me to spend in-person time with my parents and friends more than I’d originally thought.

2. New friends

I’m a fairly social person, but something I was nervous about when we moved was making friends. One of my best friends from Vancouver moved to Victoria around the same time that we did, so it’s been amazing for The Brit and I to have people we already knew here.

But I also made sure to go to networking events, and I met some fantastic people a the university I worked at. If you listened to the City Girl Talks episode with Meagan Murtonen, she and her husband also moved to Victoria around the same time we did. We are fortunate to have Thanksgiving dinner with them this weekend, and it makes me feel so full in my heart to be around good people.

3. Working from home

A goal of the past few years has been to be able to work from home, and back in June, I was able to make that happen. It’s kind of a long story that involved a bit of anxiety and agonizing on my part, but the conclusion is that I’m much happier for having made the decision to take a job that allows me a) to write, and b) to be at home to do so. The universe listens, folks.

4. The incredible beauty of where we live and can visit

Growing up and living in in Vancouver, I’ve always thought I lived in a postcard. And then we moved to another postcard. And we are just a 35-minute ferry ride from Salt Spring Island—one of my happy places—which is only a 35-minute ferry ride away. BC is so beautiful. And I can say that with absolute certainty, having taken a road trip from Whitehorse all the way back down.

5. My yoga mat

I’ve probably talked about this on social, or maybe here on the blog, but when I get on my mat, I’m home. The past twelve months have mostly been full of ups, but when the rare downs come, getting on my mat centres me. It’s where I can just be.

6. The Brit

If The Brit’s work hadn’t transferred him here, I have the feeling we would have ended up here anyway. And I’m so thankful to have him by my side. He was incredibly supportive during my job transition and he has such a steady way about him. He is my heart.

What are you thankful for?

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

Oprah Winfrey