Happy Thanksgiving

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I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

I'm thankful to my blog readers for their constant support and encouragement. No matter how hard things have gotten, you've always let me know how useful you find my writing and that helps me keep going.

I'm thankful to Brett at The Art of Manliness for giving me the opportunity to reach a wider audience, and for being an inspiration to young men like myself.

I'm thankful to Steve of Nerd Fitness for the original guest post that got me noticed by Brett, and his support in my blogging.

I'm thankful to my sister for inviting me to Chicago to visit her and the city where I went to school. It was such a great experience to share in the wonderful life she's built for herself there.

I'm thankful to my parents for their constant support and for understanding as I navigate the fine line between accepting it and fighting my own battles.

The friends I've made in Boulder have opened up an entirely new world of relating to my peers. They have allowed me to create a network of support and mutual respect and to operate from a place of authenticity and faith in my own mission.

I'm thankful to all the mentors who have taken me under their wings and helped me stay upbeat and on track. Without asking for anything in return, they shared their hard-earned wisdom and experience.

I'm thankful to my lovely partner, Anna. I could not have asked for a better person to share the trials and frustrations that I have faced starting a life in Boulder. Her grace and wisdom in dealing with bumps in the road have constantly astounded me.

I am thankful to Anna's parents as well for giving her such a solid foundation from which to operate.

In general, I'm thankful that I get to live in such a beautiful town as Boulder, even if it is sometimes insular and eerily utopian. Even the challenges and dark times I've faced this year have helped temper my spirit, and there are no lasting scars from any of them.

Going into the holiday season, I can honestly say things are looking up. I'm hopeful about the future and have some exciting plans to formalize the lessons from the Warrior Spirit and bring them to a wider audience. If only I can find the time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Who and what are you thankful for this year?

Photo credit: John-Morgan on Flickr