November 24th, 2011 | 1 comment | California, Skydiving

I am thankful for a lot. Really. And, while there are some moments that I get a notification from Chase saying my bank account is lower than I’d like for it to be, I can say without a doubt that I am rich. Loaded, actually. There is so much love in this world I am living in. So much laughter. So many amazing people, creating amazing memories, and doing amazing things.

I am thankful for the technology that allows me to stay in touch with my family in Florida. And obviously, thankful for my family. I haven’t been home in almost a year and I never in a million years thought we’d be “that family” where one or more of us is living in another state, let alone all the way across the country. I never thought that we’d be a “special occasion” kind of family that gets together once or twice a year to see each other. And we aren’t. Well, technically we are, but it doesn’t feel that way. Because of pictures and videos and Skype and “find my friends” on the iPhone, and all the tools we use to stay in touch, it feels like I haven’t missed a beat.

I am thankful for the boy. I wrote about that last year. I could really just copy and paste that post here and add to it. I’d add that I am thankful that I have such an amazing best friend to explore life with. I’d add that there is nobody in the world that I could imagine being on this adventure with. I’d add that I am thankful for his hugs when I get homesick, like I did this morning when I was skyping with the fam. And I’d add that I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

I am thankful for amazing mentors and people who, surprisingly, have stuck around, even when the path I’ve chosen is so ridiculously different than the one they signed up to guide me on. I am thankful for one too many beers, catch up sessions, ridiculously long emails outlining areas of life that are essential to staying in touch, and the chance to have these people be part of my life. Distance doesn’t matter.

I am thankful for my family that isn’t blood related. People who you may have known for a month, maybe a year, maybe a couple years, but you feel like you grew up with them. People who are always happy to hear when you’re happy, and are there when you’re feeling blue. People who come into your life and you’re pretty sure that you were separated at birth. Twinsies. Sisters. BFF’s. People who say “holy shit I can’t wait to come visit you” and they totally do. People who remind you that life is too short to not spend it surrounded with people who bring the good vibes and help you live the dream, whatever your dream is.

I am thankful for our new life and new friends (and growing family) here at Skydive Elsinore. I am thankful for our incredible roommates who hosted a “Welcome to Elsinore” party so we could meet everyone and have a few drinks together. I am thankful for being in an environment that makes me want to be better, that encourages me to perform at the highest possible level, and has the tools available for me to be the best I can possibly be in my career as a skydiver, both on the ground and in the sky. I am thankful for two days off in a row so we can decompress, explore California, and get stuff done that we can’t get done when we’re at the dropzone all day. I am thankful for a gigantic landing area and feeling safe with two Otters’ worth of canopies in the sky at a time. And I am thankful for not just one, but two wind tunnels within an hour-ish of our house.

I am thankful for where 3Ring Media is. I am thankful that I don’t have to rush to find clients and that I don’t have to work with clients that aren’t a good fit, just to keep the bills paid. I am thankful for Chris Peterson for creating a super sweet logo. Right now, 3Ring is a logo and a dream. I am thankful that I am able to support myself and continue to define the future for my company.

I am thankful for Blue Skies Magazine. It has been so fun to write about the journey from AFF to where I am today, and writing about things a couple months behind when they are actually happening has proven to be a great tool for reflection and learning. Thank you Kolla and Lara for having me every month with my column. I love working with you gals more than you’ll ever know! (Shameless plug: SUBSCRIBE TO BLUE SKIES!)

I am thankful for people who are willing to take a chance on me – this year in particular, Douglas Smith and John Hamilton.

I am thankful for Doug bringing me on earlier this year, despite not knowing what the economic climate would be like at the new dropzone and new location. I am thankful for him taking a risk, financially, to have someone on board full-time for marketing and events, when there was really no telling how the numbers would compare to last year. I am thankful for the opportunity to help move that dropzone several times over the course of the year as we moved into and out of different facilities, and seeing the new CSC grow from absolutely nothing to a fully-functional dropzone with minimal facilities. I am excited to see Doug’s vision come to life once the facilities are complete. I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of that team, to learn what I did about the industry, and to experience life living on the dropzone. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with a variety of people from a variety of backgrounds. Working with CSC was my first gig outside of the agency world. I am thankful for that transition, where not everyone realizes how important the marketing/PR part of the business is, where I am just a facet of a gigantic operation, not in an office full of other people who all come from the same business background.

I am thankful for John as well. I am thankful for him asking about my goals, and genuinely wanting to be a part of making those goals happen. I am thankful for him bringing me on board, for helping me keep the happy cup full. I am thankful for the chance to train with him, to work on breaking the bad habits and start flying efficiently. And, probably most importantly, I am thankful for him helping me distinguish a path for my career in the sky and on the ground. Something measurable. Something with milestones. Something to keep me motivated. I am thankful for him and his wife inviting us over for Thanksgiving today.

Who or what are you thankful for?