Thankful in 2020

It's been a difficult year for everyone, but I saw a lot of people writing up lists of things they were thankful for, despite all the horrible that's happened this year, so I came up with my own, in no particular order:

1. My husband - He's a perfect pandemic bubble buddy (good thing, since we live together and are married). We're on the same wavelength about how to handle things. It's also been nice just to spend more time with him, after several years of both of us being increasingly busy. 
2. My job - I'm so lucky to have a job that prioritizes keeping employees safe, and where I was able to continue working remotely. (It's also exciting to be working for one of the companies we've been hearing about a lot this year.)
3. My health - I had a weird health year last year and was looking forward to a healthier 2020. Well, I had it - not so much as a cold or a sniffle, thanks to the precautions everyone's been taking, and all my other health situations are currently well managed. 
4. The student entrepreneurship organization I volunteer with - When all my other extracurriculars were cancelled, it was great that we could carry on the this program virtually. It kept me busy, and it's nice to be able to keep the program going for the students, even in a modified form. I was also honored to receive a volunteer award from them this year! 
5. The group chat I have with some of my best friends
6. Grocery orders, Imperfect Foods, Door Dash, and any other place that offers delivery or curbside pick-up - I actually like going grocery shopping, don't mind running errands, and of course love going out to eat. But in an effort to protect myself and the people in the store, I don't mind using these services, even if it costs a little extra, to reduce our exposure to each other.
7. Essential workers - This includes everyone who has kept things going through this challenging year; from the lady who puts my groceries in my car, to the linemen who worked on Christmas Day and following our big derecho storm in June to make sure everyone had power, not to mention of course all the medical professionals working to keep everyone healthy!
8. Spending time outdoors - While I care greatly about the environment, I'm not an "outdoors" person. I got more bug bites this year than I've had in probably the last decade, thanks to time spent socializing safely outside. I've tried to go for walks as much as possible, and become much more familiar with my own community. We also discovered/rediscovered local gardens and an arboretum, making multiple visits.
9. Masks - a) They prevent the spread of germs. b) They protect your privacy. c) You don't have to worry about whether your face looks pleasant enough. I will definitely be continuing my use of these!