Today is Thanksgiving for those of us in the U.S. It’s a day where we spend time with loved ones and reflect on the things we’re most thankful for.

And I have to say… being able to make a full-time living as a freelance writer is something I’m incredibly thankful for. In years past, I made my living through a combination of writing and PR consulting. Now it’s all writing, and I don’t think I’ve ever loved my job more.

Sure, members of my family might not always “get it.” I’m still assumed to be a starving writer any time I mention work in any form. But that’s OK. I just take it in, knowing I’m happy in my work in a way a lot of folks I know really aren’t. How many people wake up every morning loving what they do, where even a bad day freelancing is 10 times better than any old day in the office?

I bet plenty here can relate. I can’t always express exactly what it is about writing and freelancing that really just makes me “light up,” but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving today or not, take a minute or two out of your day and think about how incredibly lucky we all are to be freelancing – something a lot of people dream about, but that you actually made the effort to pursue.