I'm Most Thankful For...

Long before football games, parade floats and discount holiday shopping became annual rituals associated with Thanksgiving, the first gathering of Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621 was a simple celebration of one thing: survival.

After weathering a cruel winter and yielding a good harvest, the remaining travelers of the Mayflower, joined by 61 Wampanoags, united to express their gratitude for food, shelter and companionship.

As Thanksgiving 2012 approaches, it's been an undeniably challenging few weeks for the Northeast. From power outages to flooded transit, gas shortages and broken communication systems, New York City is still very much in a state of recovery following Sandy.

So while those football games, floats, and holiday shopping events will provide a nice distraction next week, for many the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving has been distilled by recent events. And, suddenly, simple pleasures, creature comforts and good friends are getting their due.

In light of that, we ask you to share your gratitude with those beyond your holiday table. What small miracles have carried you through the chaos? What or who are you most thankful for this year? 

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

It feels good to say thanks.