I’m thankful for the experience of losing my religion during college and my early-20s. While my friends had a lot of parties and bad relationships, I systematically took apart and questioned what I’d been taught. That not only radically changed the direction I was headed in, but put me into my mid-20s unusually settled and at peace with myself. I’m especially glad that I did it by thinking rather than rebelling with drugs and sex and whatnot. My parents’ acceptance and support through that, whilst rejecting what they hold dear, was a sacrifice of love that I’m humbled by.

I’m grateful to depression for forcing me to break out of perfectionism and people-pleasing. It taught me that it’s okay to fail, to be human, to not be so stridently self-reliant.

So, I am thankful to IBM for losing my sensitive data during a data breach. It got me blogging with a purpose. I am thankful to a higher power for a sense of humor… I named my blog, I’ve Been Mugged, in honor of IBM.

And, I’m thankful to the blogosphere. I’ve learned a lot and blogging has helped me organize my thoughts and learnings about a complicated subject: identity theft and corporate responsibility. And, I’ve met a lot of really nice, helpful, and creative bloggers. I’m looking forward to the APril 2008 social in my home town: NYC.

I too lived in Chicago… Hyde Park on the south side. The town has great steaks, jazz, and blues.

Great post topic. Wish that I’d thought of it.

George
http://ivebeenmugged.typepad.com

I thankful for having wonderful and healthy children that still get a glint in their eye every morning when they pop out of bed and look forward to whatever the day will bring and the adventures will have together, which can range from raking leaves, going on a bike ride, or designing an army of killer robots with legos or pretending to have high tea in the afternoon with a collection of Webkinz.

I’m thankful that I had the chance to say goodbye to people that are no longer with me this year and be able to support friends and loved ones through the difficult times of losing someone. I’m thankful I got to spend more time with my brother this year (By Christmas, I will have seen him three times this year) which is no mean feat considered he’s in the Military and currently living in Bahrain.

And finally, as cheesy as it sounds I’m thankful that I got a wonderful opportunity to do something I truly love at a company that’s given me the flexibility to try to change the world on my own terms. I suspect even if I was somewhere else that I’d still have met some incredible people, including the many that have posted comments here (Like Dave Crow, Dave Malouf and Allard to name a few) but also the 100s of other people that I’ve met over the past 10 months, dozens of whom have truly turned into great friends.

I’m not old, but I’m not young anymore either and I feel thankful (and truth be told, LUCKY)that I work in a time and environment that make me feel young and excited again, every day and that I’ve got a great family and group of professional colleagues and personal friends to share it with.

I am thankful for having a healthy & happy family and somewhat jealous of the age my children will grow up in

Thank you all.