I spent the better part of the summer bemoaning my birthday. It was one of those ‘if I don’t acknowledge it, it didn’t happen’ immature, unenlightened, emotional sinkholes I warn others to avoid. I was buried underneath the weight of this nonsense until, graciously, several uncannily timed events took place. They left me with nothing, and I mean nothing but gratitude. All I’ve been doing since wiping the ridiculousness of aging-cliche riddled fears away, is thinking about gratitude. I am thankful to this woman, my grandmother, who raised me and spilled her soul into my being, leaving me better and stronger and kinder and more resilient than I would have otherwise been. I am thankful to my parents for demonstrating that empathy and love are the only universal languages capable of bridging differences and building bonds across ideological planes. Oh I’m also thankful to them for refusing us a television in our home growing up. At the time my anger was seismic - I know now that the journeys through the books which consumed me are some of the greatest adventures of my life. . I am thankful to my challengers and detractors for tests that resulted in resolve and courage I frankly didn’t know I possessed. You were each teachers in your own right. I see that now. . I am thankful to my champions (you know who you are) for sharing your energies and wisdoms and kindness, without being asked and when most needed. I am thankful to my person for the kinds of shelter and warmth only ‘that kind’ of love can provide. I hope to get lost with you always. I am thankful to Dr D and NYU for sharing their crazy genius with me - fun fact, I know how to say prosthesis in more languages than any other word. Each time I set off an airport metal detector the alarm is a reminder from the universe of just how lucky I am. I’m thankful to my insanely brilliant peers and colleagues each of whom I am in awe of, learn from and inspired by daily. I’m thankful for the lightness of it all at this stage of my life. For each experience and story and person I’ve encountered along the way. For every magical moment to come and for everything in between. In gratitude 🙏🏻