Cooking is not for me, thank you

*photo by *December Sun

I love Thanksgiving! It is one of my favorite holidays. I love the idea behind it: being thankful and giving. It is one day of the year that I think people really take the time to reflect and be grateful for what they have, no matter how little (and of course, how much). I am grateful for many things, and one of them is not cooking on Thanksgiving. Every Thanksgiving I am reminded of how lucky I am to have a family who understands and accepts me for what I am not - Mademoiselle Chef.

So, while everyone is up early in the morning, cooking, I take my time and enjoy the one morning of the year that I don't have to rush out of the house. I make myself a cup of coffee, sit outside my balcony and breathe. And I reflect. I think about all the things that I am thankful for, and I'm not sure whether it's the good coffee, the fresh air (as fresh as Los Angeles air can be) or it's the time I take to actually be still with my thoughts, but within a few minutes I am overcome with this immense feeling of bliss, like that giddy happiness type of feeling. And in that moment, I am reminded of the many, many other things I am thankful for (not in any particular order):

1. Hugs and kisses from my bubbly nephew, and our long conversations that never cease to astonish me.
2. My relationship with my brothers.
3. A recession-free job.
4. Two sets of parents, who are great friends to each other.
5. My niece, who has become my favorite student.
6. A best friend I can always call to get me through a two hour commute.
7. Sundays with my favorite "lil men".
8. The "praise and worship" group, who don't complain about my mediocre "keyboarding".
9. An assistant who puts up with my micro-managing habits and different moods.
10. Legs and lungs that allow me to do what I love - run.
11. People who are concerned about my life, sometimes, more than I am.
12. A boss and colleague, who, sometimes, trusts my abilities more than I do.
13. My mentor who always believes in me, and lets me go on my own path.
14. Old, childhood girlfriends who don't bring up my past mistakes or mishaps.
15. The beautiful skies of Madrid that erased all that was negative.
16. A life full of love.
17. Etc., etc., etc.

I can go on and on. And I do this every Thanksgiving. It really makes me realize how my life is rich with caring and loving people. You should try it. I'm sure you'll find that there is at least one thing to be thankful for even when your world seems to be collapsing. You see, sometimes, it is very easy to lose sight of those that are good in our lives. I lose sight of them all the time: when I'm working until 2:00 a.m. trying to meet a deadline. Or I have been on the road for an hour and half only to travel 25 miles to get home. Or a judge questions my competence because I have a client who just cannot understand the meaning of patience, or consequence. Or a relationship doesn't work out the way I had wished, leaving me with doubt and indescribable pain.

But, again, Thanksgiving reminds me that despite my shortcomings, i.e. inability to cook, there has always been plenty of delicious food for me to eat (which I love!), many places to eat them at, and remarkable people to eat them with.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have as much to be thankful for as I do.