Thankful

Thankful for the people—

those I fiercely debate,

those I gladly agree with,

those who mirror my ways,

and those who do not.

Those tuned like my own heart,

and those whose rhythms differ.

Each one a thread in the tapestry,

each one a gift.

Thankful for the people.

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Thankful for the opportunities—

to engage, to listen, to read,

to sit with the voices of others,

to sift and shape my own values

from what I see and hear.

Each moment a doorway

to deeper understanding.

Thankful for the opportunities.

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Thankful for the friendships—

undeserved, yet freely given,

blessings that anchor and lift me.

For the food for thought,

the companionship,

the help, the support, the solace,

the widening of my mind.

Without you, my life

would be achingly small—

so impoverished.

Thankful for the friendships.

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Thankful for the experiences—

in work, in life, in family,

in community,

in India’s colors and the U.S.’s expanse.

Moments of annoyance,

embarrassment, and guilt;

moments of joy beyond words,

and sorrow beyond imagining.

All have shaped me,

guided me, carried me

to this very place.

Thankful for the experiences.

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Thankful for the pauses—

Sundays and weekends,

holidays and empty days,

days of sickness,

days stuck at home,

days with nothing to do—

quiet soil in which

thoughts like these

take root and bloom.

Thankful for the pauses.

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Thankful for this life—

for all that has entered it,

for nature’s awe,

for the bright fruits

of human creativity,

for everything I’ve learned

since the moment

I wailed into the world.

The good and the bad,

the joy and the sorrow,

the smiles and the frowns,

the climbs and the falls.

All of it a blessing.

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Thankful for this life.

Thankful for this life.