Top Ten Tuesday:What I’m Thankful for

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Last year I used the Thanksgiving prompt to discuss Native American authors and books. This year I decided to share some of the things I’m grateful for.

Answer #6 mentions Covid-19, so feel free to skip it if that’s a sensitive topic for you. I’m sending virtual hugs to everyone who has had their heart broken by this awful illness this year.

1. Canadian Healthcare

I grew up in the United States in a family that sometimes struggled to pay medical (and other) bills, so it blew my mind to immigrate to a country where you can make an appointment with your family doctor (or even a specialist) without ever having worry about how you’ll afford to pay for that visit.

Canada definitely isn’t a perfect country, but I love the fact that everyone here has the ability to get that suspicious mole/lump checked out or find out that they have high blood pressure/diabetes/other chronic health conditions before those diagnoses balloon into something life-threatening and very difficult to treat. I wish everyone on Earth had this same access to decent medical care.

Drawing of the phrase Happy Thanksgiving on a wooden sign. The sign has some leaves flanking it and a pile of squash, tomatoes, and pumpkins sitting below it. 2. Jana, Top Ten Tuesday, and You

Thank you, Jana, for hosting Top Ten Tuesday. I’ve met so many wonderful people through this blog hop, and I’m grateful for all of you.

3. A Quiet, Warm, Safe Place to Live 

4. A Kitchen Filled With Food

5. Clean Clothes and Comfortable Shoes

There are far too many people in this world whose basic needs aren’t being met. I do what I can to help them and only wish I could do more.

6. My Parents Surviving Covid-19

Both of my parents caught Covid-19 this year. I am so grateful that they are still around. May next year bring a vaccine that will grind this illness to a halt.

7. The Internet 

How many of you remember what life was like before most people had access to the Internet? I do, and I’m glad we have ways to digitally reach out to one another during this pandemic. Life would be much sadder and more isolated if we were all stuck at home without it.

8. Humorous Pet Videos and Gifs

This list needs something silly on it.

Humorous animal content brings so much joy to my life. When my parents were sick earlier this year, I relied heavily on stuff like compilation videos of cute baby rabbits  to distract me while we waited for updates about their health.

Purple, blue, and yellow overlapping bubbles. The largest bubble is purple and has the word Thank You written on it. 9. Front Line Workers

I deeply appreciate all of you. Thank you for working so hard to keep everyone healthy, safe, and stocked up on all of the necessities of life like food and medicine.

You are the true heroes of 2020.

10. Exercise 

A good workout does wonders for my mind and body!

11. Dairy-Free Treats

2020 has felt like it lasted a decade, so I’m sneaking one last item onto my list.

I love the fact that there has been a surge of companies offering dairy-free ice cream, cookies, chocolate bars, and more. These items used to be much harder to find, so it’s marvellous to have such a big selection of them now when I want a treat.

72 Comments

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72 Responses to Top Ten Tuesday:What I’m Thankful for

  1. An exceptional list of things to be thankful for. Cherish your health and the system that keeps you healthy. https://pmprescott.blogspot.com/2020/11/time-to-count-blessings.html

  2. What a wonderful list. I’m a firm believe that there is always something to be thankful for. 🙂

  3. verushka

    A lovely list, Lydia! I am so pleased your parents are dang okay!

  4. Lovely list, Lydia! Front line workers deserve all our thanks this year and, like you, I’m so glad I live in a country where I don’t have to worry about whether or not I can afford to see my doctor. I’m so glad to hear your parents recovered, I hope they continue to do well!

  5. This is an excellent list. I am envious of the health care you receive in Canada and I hope that someday we will have that here in the US.

  6. People are definitely reflecting more this year. And that is a good thing. Not all that happened this year was bad. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in South Africa, but even I did a post today and think the whole world should sit still for a moment and try to find something to be thankful for this season.

    Glad you can get some nice diary free products!

    Elza is grateful for

  7. I’ve been tempted to move to Canada just for the universal healthcare (but also because of beautiful scenery and nice people). I’m a Type 1 diabetic and it costs me thousands of dollars every year to pay for insulin, insulin pump supplies, doctor’s appointments, etc. and that’s WITH health insurance. It’s crazy. I’m grateful that I can afford what I need, but it would be really nice if I didn’t have to!

    Happy TTT!

    Susan
    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

  8. Wonderful list, Lydia! We definitely have so much to be thankful for towards frontline workers during this crazy year. There’s no universal healthcare in Indonesia but I’m so thankful to have a job that gives me insurance but to also have the luxury/privilege to afford good healthcare even without it. Really feeling that privilege a lot this year! I’m so glad to hear that your parents recovered from COVID, I hope they’re continuing to be well!

  9. Wonderful list. I’m so glad to hear that your parents are doing well! Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy Thanksgiving!

  10. Very reflective and thoughtful and positive, Lydia! Cheers and here’s to 2021!

  11. Great list – I’m so, so thankful for our healthcare in the UK too.

  12. So much to be thankful for in this year of loss. I think every day how fortunate we are to have wifi during this pandemic! I am so spoiled by online grocery shopping and curbside pickup that I may never go into a store again!

  13. Such a lovely list! I’m glad to hear your parents have recovered from COVID, that must have been quite the scare.

  14. So much to be grateful for! I’m so glad your parents made it through COVID. I had family members who made it and some who did. And glad you appreciate your Canadian healthcare, I wish we had some of that down here. Happy Thanksgiving if you still celebrate and have a good week in any case!

  15. Happy for you and your parents. Good list.

  16. I am so thankful that your parents survived COVID-19 as well. I couldn’t imagine what I would do if I was in your shoes. I love your list and I hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

  17. Lovely list, Lydia! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

  18. I often think about what this pandemic would be like if it happened in the early nineties- would we be more or less afraid? Would we have handled it better or worse? I’m glad I can still communicate with my friends, but imagine if Facebook wasn’t around to spread misinformation… Great list, as always, and thought-provoking, too!

    Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving!

    • That’s such an interesting thought experiment, and I honestly don’t know how to answer it. The news (and the Internet in general) were so different a few decades ago from what I’ve read.

      Happy Thanksgiving.

  19. I’m glad your parents made it through covid! How scary!

  20. I’m so happy to hear that your parents made it through Covid. And I agree about Canadian health care even though I don’t live there lol. I wish america would take steps in that direction.

    The Internet, too. Well said. The book blog community (along with so many other wonderful ones) wouldn’t exist without it!

  21. Yes to dairy-free treats!! There’s nothing like being allergic and now finally being able to enjoy what everyone else loves!! Great list, Lydia!

  22. Great time to step back and be grateful. Happy TTT!

  23. I love your list, Lydia. As you know, some of the same things were on mine. I’m so happy to hear your parents recovered from COVID. I will be thrilled once we have a vaccine.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

  24. This is a lovely post. I’m especially glad you’ve been safe and heathy throughout this pandemic, and that your parents made it through. I hope you have a good end to this tumultuous year.

  25. Happy for you and your parents. Agree with everything on your list, especially pet videos! I’m stuck away from my house since this pandemic started and I sorely miss my cat, but all the funny animal content on the internet helps!

  26. so glad your parents have recovered, and definitely hoping for a vaccine and thanks for this list..

  27. I’m really happy that your parents recovered. Can’t imagine how scary it was for you.
    I totally agree with you about the front line workers, they are definitely heroes.

  28. I’m glad your parents survived! I remember exactly where I was the first time I saw the Internet. That’s something to be thankful for too!

  29. This is such a wonderful list to reflect on. Glad you have so much to be thankful for and wishing good health for you and your family

  30. So many wonderful things to be grateful for! Stay safe and healthy! <3

  31. I love your post – truly so much to be thankful for, even in these weird and trying times. I am thankful to hear that your parents recovered, I can’t imagine how scary that must have been for your family.

  32. Such a wonderful list and I’m glad to hear your parents have recovered from COVID.

  33. I am glad that there are so many more options with food for those with allergies and intolerant bits.

  34. Such a lovely list! I’m happy to hear your parents are doing okay. Hopefully 2021 will bring good things! <3

  35. Always appreciate that Jana keeps this running. It’s such a fun weekly way to participate in this blog-y space. 🙂 Thanks for visiting Finding Wonderland on this week, Lydia; apologies it took me this long to visit here.

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