Thanksgiving 2014

In the spirit of this pirated holiday, I'd like to express what I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for this disease, whatever label is ultimately applied to it. I know this seems surprising, but without it I never would have faced the very real prospect of dying, I never would have been introduced to Buddhist philosophy and practices, I never would have found out just how strong I really am, and I never would have had my eyes opened to the reality that people with physical disabilities and chronic illnesses have to live in. I know it's inspired some of you to take selfless actions like donating blood, and I'm thankful for that, too.

I'm thankful for my family and friends. Apparently, I have a good judge of character after all, because none of them have abandoned me because of my illness. I can't truly express the depth of my gratitude toward you all for rallying around me, for supporting me and allowing me to cry when I needed to, and for standing up for me when I needed allies. I couldn't ask for a better group.

I'm thankful that I live in a time and a country where we can afford this illness. I know the approximate cost of my treatments and rehabilitation, and I'm grateful that we'll never need to see or pay that bill. As flawed as our system is, at least they seem to agree that a second chance at life shouldn't come at such a steep cost that you and your family have to seriously consider letting you die. I know how lucky I am to have been born when I was. This disease is more of a nuisance once it's under control now, whereas before it was a drawn-out death sentence.

I'm thankful for doctors and nurses who, despite long hours and countless difficult patients, still genuinely care about their patients. I know we can be difficult to work with sometimes because of pain or frustration, or something along those lines, but we would suffer immensely without the hospital staff. When someone goes above and beyond their job description, it can mean the difference between a good day and bad one.

I'm thankful for modern technology; everything from the medicines that saved my life, to the devices and gadgets that make it possible for me to be independent, to the tablet and keyboard I'm using now to quickly type out and express my thoughts. I think, sometimes, we forget how remarkable a time we're living in. We all have devices in our homes right now that far surpass anything anyone could have dreamed of a century ago, and amazingly we consider them mundane. Terry Pratchett once created a character who, believing that the universe created itself anew every moment, lived his entire life in perpetual mild surprise and wonder at the brand-new world around him. I think, sometimes, we all should take a mental step back and allow ourselves to be surprised and amazed at the world from time to time. I suspect that's how you stop taking things for granted.

I'm thankful for the education I've received, both in and out of school. I don't think it's entirely coincidence that I've been given the gift of being able to express myself, that I was given the opportunity to hone that gift, and that I'm now in a situation that desperately needs to be better understood by the general public. There are still so many problems with how the disabled and the ill are treated, but it's difficult to express why they're problems in the first place when most people can't really empathize simply because they've never been in that situation. I know I've been able to help my friends and family understand, but I feel like I need to find a way to take that out into the world.

Well, I hope all of you have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving weekend. Remember to go easy on the leftovers tomorrow; there will probably be more than enough to go around, so don't go stuffing yourself two days in a row.