This weekend I am thankful for education and technology.
We live in a world where we have so many opportunities to learn more and to accomplish more, that it almost feels like a crime to not make the most of the knowledge that is constantly within our reach. For me, something that I want to take more advantage of is delving deeper into the world of web design and development. There are literally thousands of free tutorials and online courses about creating websites that I have no excuse in not learning :)
And I am thankful for technology because it makes it incredibly easy for me to keep in contact with all of my family and friends back in the States. This time last year my mom was hosting an 80th birthday party for my grandfather, and just about everyone from their side of the family was gathered in my parents’ dining room, passing an iPhone around to say hi to me. I am very thankful for the ability to talk to anyone at anytime from anywhere.
macarons & paperbacks 
Hallo Maggie,
I think that is one of the best blessings that tech has brought back together the close connections of those who live at such great distances from each other! Not only for those living apart by continent, ocean, and country, but I oft think about the way in which military families can communicate and stay in touch with each other through Skye or other programmes where they can see and hear each other in ways that they could not before!! :) I always celebrate tech in these regards as they help keep our closeness to those we love the most! :) I think in this way tech is used most wisely! :)
On a similar vein, I am thankful for public libraries who give access to books not only for personal reading pleasures but for research purposes if your a writer! :) Without the access to such a large collection of books (if you include the possibilities of ILL’ing), I am not sure if I could have kept up reading at the pace of discovery that I enjoy as much as I do, nor be in a position to help uncover the research for my own writings! I always say I am self-taught and library educated because its such a true statement! Libraries enhance not only my world with literature but they allow me to expand my horizons in ways where I am a life learner of whose boundaries of understanding gaining knowledge do not have limits! :)
Therefore, I too, am thankful for alternative educational opportunities! As far as web design is concerned, I’m quite thankful for WP!! :) I am quite happy with my site as it is today, and although I might self-host in the future, for now, I am over the moon happy with what I have done with a limited knowledge of html & templates! :) IF you pursue a project off-WP I’d love to see what you develop and encourage you in your efforts as its not something that is easily able to be picked up even if there are resources to learn! You must have a natural knack for this form of tech and for that I, I tip my hat to you!
Thanks for your comment Jorie! I still find myself amazed in how far technology has advanced in the last 10-20 years! It seems so strange and difficult to not be able to communicate with people instantly. When my cellphone doesn’t work I feel like I am literally lost and hopeless, and when I was a child my parents didn’t even own mobile phones. How did they manage?! Haha ;)
And I, too, am grateful for WP! I love blogging through it, and I’m excited to delve deeper into it next year. I would say that I have a natural knack/interest in coding and that definitely helps me, especially when it comes to finding little errors! Normally I hate problem solving, but for some reason I enjoy figuring out how codes work.