What We’re Thankful For, 2007 Edition

In a week, we’ll all be gearing up for the big feed that is Thanksgiving. This time of year often gets us thinking about what we’re thankful for -- if only to be ready for when Aunt Matilda asks everyone to go around the holiday table and say it.

I went around the Monster Career Advice table, as we’ve done in past years, and asked my coworkers what they were thankful for at work. Here are their (and my) responses. Happy Thanksgiving, and tell us what you’re thankful for in the comments below.

Ann: Health insurance is my thing -- the thing I read about, think about and talk about pretty much all the time. (Yes, I make a fascinating party guest.) So I am thankful that we were able to host an online community event in April on health insurance issues. I am grateful to our guest experts, Bianca DiJulio of the Kaiser Family Foundation and Jacob Hacker, author of The Great Risk Shift, for sharing their time and expertise with us, and to all of you Monster members who participated.

In July, I wrote about a friend whose family had lost health insurance just as a new health insurance mandate was going into effect here in Massachusetts. I am happy -- and thankful -- to report that my friend’s husband has since found a full-time job with health insurance, and that they are now covered. But I will really be thankful when health insurance is no longer a major cause for worry in this country.

Brooke: As it is my first year out of college, I am thankful I have a job! I have been fortunate enough to be able to work in a challenging and dynamic environment right after graduating. I must admit it’s been a pretty unique experience working for a career advice Web site at the beginning of my career; I’ve learned so much on many different levels. In the past five and a half months, other than career advice (which I’ve come to know), I’ve learned a whole new set of skills, and perhaps most importantly, I’ve discovered a lot about myself. And if a job can do all that for you, you know you have a lot to be grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bryan: I’m especially thankful this year that my wife and I found a good babysitter for my 1-year-old son. I can come to work knowing that he’s in safe hands. I’m also grateful for the arrival of a new coworker, who’s successfully encouraged me to stop skipping lunch.

Christine: There are a lot of personal things I’m thankful for this year, my husband’s continued good health being high on the list. The biggest, of course, is my belly, or more accurately, what’s inside it -- we’re due with our first child in early January and are over the moon. This has made the whole concept of work/life balance come into full focus for me. I’m thankful I work at a company that understands life isn’t all about work and has been accommodating for doctor’s appointments, sick (make that exhausted) days and other fun pregnancy brings. And then there’s after the baby comes...

Christopher: Last year at Thanksgiving, I was gearing up for my wedding, which occurred just two days after the holiday. I have to confess -- I was thinking more about saying my vows properly than reflecting on what I was truly thankful for. Shame on me, I know.

Nearly a year has passed now, and while my wife may tell you I am most thankful for turkey (which I do thoroughly enjoy), what I am really thankful for is her. She has given me the most wonderful year of my life and has made me an all-around better person. It was also her that urged me to start looking for another job earlier this year when I was clearly unhappy -- and because of that urging, I can now be thankful for a job that I look forward to coming into each and every day and the wonderful people I get to work with.

Norma: There’s a lot for me to be thankful for, like my husband and son, my family, my great friends and that I am lucky enough to truly enjoy the work I do and the people I work with. So I could go all sentimental on that stuff, or I can talk about the diversions at work that I’m thankful for. All work and no fun makes me a dull employee, right? So here are the two diversions I am most thankful for: Pandora Radio, which plays the music I want to hear based on how my preferences mesh with the “Music Genome Project,” and JibJab Starring You! videos, in which you take a JibJab movie and cast it with heads from your own pictures. Hours of procrastinating fun!

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