Back in 2009 I wrote a quick blog post that I titled, “Things I am thankful for”. Though some things have changed since I wrote it, I have to say these are things I am still grateful for.
2016 has been a rough year, both personally and socially. Once again I had to have heart surgery, and we’ve seen an election year that has brought out the worst in people. But upon reflection there is a lot to be thankful for.
I’m thankful that I work with a wonderful group of people who support each other and the community at large. As the support staff for state law-enforcement, it is our job to ensure that those whose job it is to keep our streets safe have the resources to do so. It is not always easy but the staff’s ability to maintain grace under pressure is something I am truly thankful for.
I am thankful for my core group of friends who offer love and laughter, even when times are tough. This has been a rough year for a few of my dearest friends; too many loved ones have been lost this year. Yet, through the year we have demonstrated what friendship really means by being there for each other. I cannot imagine what life would be like without these friends.
As we get ready to spend the day together I am thankful for my family. We may not always agree on politics, but we hold to our motto “family is everything” and keep to our common ground.
Being a rough year, I am thankful that 2016 saw the coming together of the Shakespeare community as we celebrated him, even if it was the anniversary of his death. I am thankful that between the Internet and broadcasting technology this was a year that saw a wide range of Shakespeare productions. I think I saw more plays this year than I did when I was studying him in college. I think many people share my thanks, as this is the year we saw Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet. That right there is enough reason to be thankful.
And, as contrived as this may sound, I am oh so very thankful to you who are reading this. I am thankful that modern technology has brought us together. You are among those I call friend. You have made me a better writer and in some cases, a more informed reader. We’ve come together for many reasons some being a passion for Shakespeare, a passion for reading other points of views or finding a voice we have learned to appreciate. But mostly we come together because we share the common need to reach out beyond our physical community and expand our circle further, in order to expand our minds. I am thankful for your blogs, your books, your comments and your friendship.
So even if you are not celebrating the American holiday of Thanksgiving, please know that you a large part of what I am thankful for, today and everyday.
With ‘Thanks, my countrymen, my loving friends. Richard II William Shakespeare
The View From Sari's World 
And thank you too, Sari, your thoughts in posts and in your comments are both perspicacious and sensitive. Yes, 2016 has been a difficult year but blogging about and sharing things that are dear to your heart are one way for all of us to maintain perspective when it would be too easy to feel defeated by it all. For this relief, much thanks.
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