Image by © George Steinmetz/Corbis

I don’t have to look too far in order to construct my ever-growing list of things to be thankful for. The obvious thing I am most gracious to the Creator for would be my life. I just successfully completed my second combat tour, I’ve got all my fingers, all my toes, and I came home to a loving network of family and friends. I am thankful for those in my life who inspire me to be a better person and continue to work toward my goals, no matter how frightened I may be of failure. I am thankful for my home, my partner, my puppy, and all the positive things that have become a fixture in my life within the last year.

But those are all things that pertain directly to me.

I believe, as human beings, we are all connected. We are all plugged in to a greater consciousness, a greater sense of being. This is part of the human experience — the thread that weaves our communities, our neighborhoods, our networks. [READ MORE]