As Thanksgiving approaches, it's easy to get swept up in the negative aspects of the holiday season: the crowds, the noise, the pile up of assignments at work as everyone scambles to take a holiday vacation. This year, however, I'm taking the time to stop for a moment and remember some of the good things in my life. With that in mind, here is my list of things that I am thankful for. 

1. I'm thankful for the friends I have. This is going to sound so cliche, but my friends are the best I could ask for, and are truly like my family. My best girl friend is someone whom I've known literally since we were babies, and she's like a sister to me. Meanwhile, my best guy friend is awesome and goes above and beyond the call of friendship. I mean, this is a guy who got up at 4 a.m. to carry my bags for me when my plane arrived late during one of our vacations together. It doesn't get much better than that.

2. I'm thankful for my family. I'm fortunate in that my parents and in-laws have become friends, so it makes for a really nice Thanksgiving dinner each year. My husband's aunt and uncle always host it, and we usually have a very pleasant day together with minimal fights. The only argument I can remember breaking out during my 12 years of attending was when I got into a fight with one of their friends over Buffy, of all things. This man wanted to watch football and I wanted to watch the Buffy marathon. He then declared that Buffy was violent and was responsible for corrupting the minds of our youth. I argued that football is even more violent -- and that unlike Buffy, it was not make-believe. Needless to say, this guy did not like me very much. He eventually shut up, so I guess I won our little debate.

3. I'm thankful for my cat. Maya is sweet. Maya is cuddly. Maya is awesome. I don't know where I'd be in the world today without my Maya to watch over me and guide me. It's as simple as that.

4. I'm thankful that I live in New York City. Yeah, I'm biased, but to me, NYC is the best place on Earth -- and I've been to a lot of places, so I do know what's out there! We've got great food, museums, entertainment, a mix of cultures ... I still smile every time I cross over the bridge and see our wonderful skyline in the distance.

5. I'm thankful that I've gotten to travel so much. I think that visiting other countries has broadened my horizons and made me a much more interesting and understanding person. There's still a lot of the world that I haven't seen and I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of it. So on that note, I'm thankful that our world is so big!

6. I'm thankful for the Internet. The Internet has opened so many doors for me in terms of my writing and music. Also, sites like Facebook have allowed me to get in touch with old friends. I think back to my college days in the early '90s and don't understand how I ever survived without obsessively checking my e-mail.

7. I'm thankful for Mother Nature. She's given us beautiful turquoise oceans, tumbling waterfalls, rainbows, rocky red cliffs and rolling, green fields. I'm still in awe whenever I catch a gorgeous sunset or come face-to-face with a snow-capped mountain. We all need to take better care of our planet.

8. I'm thankful for chocolate. I love chocolate. Chocolate rules. I'm not picky, either -- I'll eat anything from gourmet chocolate to a Hershey bar. The more the better...

9. I'm thankful for the good in people. I tend to be in cynic, but just when you write someone off, they'll often surprise you. Now that I've been making more of a point to do charity work, I'm encountering more and more wonderful people, who are serving as my role models.

10. I'm thankful for my husband. Next April, we celebrate 10 years of marriage. I don't know how he puts up with me sometimes, but he does, and we're still having fun together. I don't know what I'd do without him.