I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my fellow Canadian’s around the world, a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful and joyous holiday surrounded by family and friends; May you always have much to be thankful for.

Since Thanksgiving is an opportunity for each of us to reflect on our blessings and to show gratitude, I thought it might be nice to start a thread where we can all express the things we are most grateful for this year. So I ask, what are you thankful for, this Thanksgiving?

What I am thankful for ....

While celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving with family and friends, I always begin to think on what I am most thankful for in my life. I think it is beneficial to pause once and awhile and remember what is most important in life and to acknowledge the many wonderful things and people in our life that oftentimes we take for granted.

I am thankful for many things...

I am thankful for my faith/path and for the opportunity that in some respects started me on this path years ago. It is a lifelong journey and one of continuous learning and growth that has, and will continue to transform my life.

I am thankful for my family, without whom I would not be the man I am today. They have kept me grounded and have supported me throughout my career and life. They have stood by me through my greatest struggles and my greatest triumphs. My parents, grandparents, and my siblings are my heroes. I am the man I am today because of them.

I am thankful for my friends who have remained loyal and supportive in my life. The truest friend is one that is there for you during your lowest moments and struggles, as well as, the good moments and triumphs.

I am thankful for the ability to follow my passion in life and earn a living doing something that fulfills me and hopefully brings enjoyment to others and facilitates thought provoking discussions. And, this year, especially in these economic times, I am thankful to have a job, and the ability to work and support those I love.

I’m thankful to the community I live in for welcoming me into their lives with open arms, and for respecting my privacy.

I am thankful to be a Canadian citizen and to live in a nation that is culturally diverse and free.

I am thankful for every breath of life, every beat of my heart...life is a gift and a journey, and one I am most thankful for. The inevitable will come to us all, we all will all fall victim to the looming claws of the Grim Reaper - It is a part of life and something that no one is exempt from. Aldous Huxley wrote in the preface of his novel, Brave New World that one should judge all things as if one were seeing them from their death bed. I agree. In fact, everything that has happened in my life has made me so aware of the value of human life and the day-to-day things we all take for granted. I am thankful for every tragedy that has befallen me, especially in the last few years and for every triumph I’ve had in my life’s journey. They have all made me the man I am today.

I am thankful for love. I am thankful for the love of family and friends I am thankful for the love of the woman who made me a better man in all respects; to love and know her was a cherished blessing and one I am eternally grateful for. Above all else, I value the blessing of my family and friends for standing by me with love and loyalty. There is nothing more precious to me than my family and friends. I don’t have any prized possessions that cannot be replaced, except for my friends and family whom I cherish most.

I am thankful for my girlfriend/fiancee for showing me how to love again after losing my fiancee, Joleen in 2005. I am grateful for her love, support, generosity, understanding, and patience.

I am thankful for children. I love how children look at the world with "open" eyes. They don’t judge. They don’t betray. They are not jealous or envious. They are not even weary. Nevertheless, there is a certain amount of awareness in children. It would be nice to be able to be like that all of the time; and just look at the world as a beautiful and amazing place. As adults we see a world filled with cruelties and hate, and atrocities beyond the imagination. But if we as the human race look deeper we can see what children see, a world filled with beauty, love, generosity, and hope.

I consider myself to be citizen of the world. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to travel and experience the people and cultures around the world. Ultimately, there are many differences, but at the end of the day we are all human, with the same emotions and desires. With my career I am constantly traveling. I love to experience new places and cultures. Awareness and experience makes you a richer person, I think.

I am thankful for all the people I have the pleasure of meeting in my travels.

My life thus far, has been a rollercoaster ride. I have gone through many highs and lows. But all of these experiences just show you how beautiful and precious life really is. I cannot wait to see where life’s journey takes me.

These are some of the things I am most thankful for.