Hi all! Thanksgiving Day (here in the States) is quickly approaching, and I just want to spend a minute to reflect on things I am grateful for (and maybe help y'all reflect, too). This Thanksgiving I am grateful for:

-an amazing family that has supported me this year through my hair loss, my college graduation, and my move across the country. They have been there for me from day one, have always believed in me, and have taught me the skills and values it takes to be a kind, successful, happy human being.

-health! My alopecia is the only "ailment" I have, and I feel lucky that hair loss is my only "issue." (I have put these in quotations since I don't really think of my alopecia as an ailment or an issue anymore.) As millions of people in the world fight malnutrition, hunger, cancer, and AIDS, my alopecia suddenly feels much less worse. (I'm not trying to downsize the effect that alopecia can have on people, because I know that it is a very difficult road to travel; rather, I just feel like in my own life it is no longer the main determinant of my happiness/sadness like it used to be.)

-the support I have found on Alopecia World! As I went through the most horrifying, emotionally difficult period in my life this year dealing with my hair loss, the members of Alopecia World were there for me through and through. Without the support and advice I got from this site, I definitely would not have healed (emotionally) as quickly as I did. The courage and perseverance that the members on this site have is such an inspiration! Thank you everyone for your unbelievable strength :)

-my job! Ever since I interned on Capitol Hill during my junior year of college, it was my dream to come back and live/work in Washington, DC. After months of applying to jobs in DC, literally hundreds of applications, and countless interviews later, I finally found a job in DC working for a fantastic cause that I truly believe in through a non-profit organization. I learned that if you work hard enough, dreams really do come true.

-my boyfriend, Akshai. He has loved me with hair and continues to love me without hair. He stuck by during the worst of my hair loss and helped me climb out of a dark pit of depression and anxiety when I lost all of my hair. Never does a day go by without him telling me how beautiful I am. You don't find a love like that very often. Never ever take the people you love for granted - tell them you love them every single day and truly appreciate your time with them <3

Well, there are plenty of other things I am grateful for (ie. mint-chocolate chip ice cream, Netflix, my cool Garmin running watch....) but they are little compared to the people in my life and the dreams I have achieved, and continue to achieve. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Wish me luck as I bake some apple and pumpkin pies tonight :)

-Natalie