Thursday, November 22, 2007

Have you relayed your thanks?

A Great Big Nerd had some eloquent thoughts on the nature of our Institutionalized holiday of Family Togetherness. Football commentary aside, I agree with him whole-heartedly.

One group of my friends created a tradition of round-robin Thanksgiving email. We spam each other with highlights from our personal thankfulness lists. It's an opportunity to pause and reflect, to put into words our appreciation for the people, events and things that impacted our lives for the better during the past year.

This year my list included my law school mentor, the internet and friends I've made there, my current roommate, and defender of free information, Richard Stallman (featured recently on xkcd).

Honestly, Stallman probably doesn't care about admiration from unknown quantities. But I do try to tell my friends how much I appreciate them as often as possible without seeming obsequious. If there's someone who can identify your face in a crowd, and that person has made a positive difference in your life this year, maybe you should tell them.

I just emailed my mentor. Who are you going to email?

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