Things I am Thankful for... 2023 Edition

There are many weeks, I simply don’t know what to write about in this section, this week should be a layup, right?

Things that I am thankful for in 2023?

The first answer is the most obvious. My family. When times get rough and my mental state isn’t positive, my wife and kids keep me grounded.

I remember praying for years for my future wife. Boy, did I get blessed. It is because of Susan that I am even here in Malta. She was worth the move.

I am thankful for the love that my family and I have received from this great county.

The next one is kind of weird, because I haven't felt like lifting weights in a few weeks, but I am thankful for the gym. I am thankful that working out has helped me mentally. Last winter seemed like it would never end, and I wanted to thrive. So, I started waking up at 4 a.m. every morning and worked out at the high school gym.

That facility is unavailable to me and outsiders now, but the time that I had there earlier this year was amazing. I now work out at the City Gym and I love it.

This year, I truly learned how important vacation days can be. I am thankful that my family has utilized a couple of short trips up north to Canada.

We also had a planned trip to Sweden that we had saved up for. That trip gave our family a new view and perspective of a few different countries.

I was even thankful for the time that I had being stuck with my family at the airport. It was terrible. But we had a chance to overcome some slight adversity together as a family. We had a chance to bond even more.

I am thankful that my mother had a chance to visit us.

The next thing that I am thankful for is a lot more shallow; Mexican Candy. Yes, I am thankful for Mexican Candy, which I have been able to find in a nearby town. There is something delicious to me about a sweet and spicy candy. I have enjoyed a good amount of gummy candy covered in chamoy and or Tajin.

This also reminds me of a time when I accidentally grabbed a bag of Mango Con Habenero instead of Mango Con Chile. Of course, I put the whole mango slice in my mouth and five to ten seconds later regretted my decision. It was at that exact time that my mother-in-law came to our door. I was in pain but let her in and took off in fear of being exposed for not being tough enough to handle my candy. I was hurting. I didn’t eat another.

I am thankful for the staff at the PCN, who are always so supportive and put in the time and effort to get this newspaper out every week. We have had some weird weeks in terms of printing, and we have been through some things, but the PCN crew has risen to the occasion time and time again.

Not trying to preach, but if you are thankful for someone. Let them know. Your encouragement can go a long way.