Today, above all else, I’m thankful for family.

Family means something different to me than it did a few years ago. But I think it’s the same basic premise we all strive for: the people who have been through life with you, who know you all the way down to your flaws, and who will never stop loving you anyway. Blood relatives could be family (they certainly get a head start), but for me it’s not automatic. Most of my blood relatives don’t really know me, either because they haven’t really tried or they’ve refused to see and accept who I am.

So I’m spending today with my real family. And it’s as full and deep as I could ever want family to be. Caroline and Adam and our kids, of course, and also seven other roommates and dear friends. These are the people who go through life with me, and who love me and who I love no matter what. It’s not quite my whole family – my girlfriend and her husband can’t be here today, and I’ll miss them. But we’ll have a full, spirited house, every bit in the spirit of this holiday. I’m so, so thankful for that.

I hope you’re celebrating this holiday with your family too, whatever that means to you. And if for you that means it’s hard, I hope you can find the strength and love to get yourself through, however you need that to happen.

Happy Thanksgiving. ❤