The big TD (aka Turkey Day or Thanksgiving) is coming up and you know what that means: a feast on your plate, relatives on your couch + football on your TV. As if all of that wasn’t enough, Thanksgiving gets even better when you take time to think about all the things you’re grateful for.

While all of us at NOOGAtoday are certainly thankful for our cool jobs – we’re especially thankful to have an amazing city like Chattanooga that’s full of interesting things for us to talk about each day.

That got us thinking: What Chattanooga-specific things are you thankful for? Let us know by responding to this email and we’ll feature some of your answers in our newsletter during the week of Thanksgiving.

From the beautiful city to the people we meet every day, to the delicious food and public events. What are you thankful, Chattanooga?

Here’s why the NOOGAtoday staff is grateful this year:

Sean
My gratitude this year is directly related to family (Hi, wife!) and the ability to adapt to change. As a longtime resident of Chattanooga, I’m also finally realizing that this city is my home. Late to the game, right? Chattanooga has everything a person could want: great food, great people and a really long bridge that I can walk my dog across so she doesn’t keep us at night. I’m grateful for close friends and co-workers (both new and old). This year has been a whirlwind of activity—I got married (!!!!), started a new job here at NOOGAtoday and spent a wonderful week exploring coastal Maine. I’m thankful that there are still good books to read. And, of course, I’m eternally grateful to my wife for loving me.

Chloé
I'm grateful for—in no particular order: 1) Leaving old habits that didn't serve me well behind and for a mindset that allows me to continue improving myself and to TRY to appreciate every moment for what it is, whether good or bad. 2) My family, especially my new nephew. I'm also thankful for the other new additions to my family (new cousins!) and how it's helped our tight-knit family become even closer. I think this means I'm officially expelled from the "kids table" but I guess it's time. 3). I'm thankful for my friends, who are my adopted family and who help keep me sane and understand and love my quirks. 4) I'm thankful for change, even when it feels scary 5) I'm thankful for my health, my privilege, which I work not to take for granted, my jobs and my new apartment. 6) I'm thankful to have fallen in love with Chattanooga and to get to live and work in my city-love. 7) I'm thankful for countless, small moments of beauty, for challenges that I know will make me better and for the little voice in the back of my head that reminds me not to be negative when that's where my reaction goes ... hmm … I think that's it!

Adam
From my vantage point, there’s a lot to be thankful for this year. I’m glad to observe so much opportunity, growth and success for friends and loved ones this year. It feels great to see my city, and those I care about in it, thriving. I’m especially thankful for the diligence of my coworkers, particularly Chloe and Sean, who I’ve worked alongside for the last seven years with the goal of informing and inspiring the local community. They inform and inspire me every day. I’m also thankful that: I have more time with the sweetest dog ever; I made new friends and reconnected with old ones; it was so effortless for NOOGAtoday to become part of the 6AM family; MLK Boulevard and Brainerd Road were repaved; our downtown cross-streets are still one-way.

Alina
The thing I'm most thankful for this year, without any hesitation, are the people I keep around me here in Chattanooga. This year has been full of changes (some good, some hard, most were both) and I'm happy to say that through it all I've come out a stronger, more grounded person. And while I'm lucky enough to have a family that loves and supports me, it was my second, chosen family here in Chattanooga that helped and still help me every day. I'm thankful for my roommate and the pep talks she gave me on the kitchen floor. I'm thankful for my boyfriend who shows endless love and support and gave me rides to work when I didn't have a car. I'm thankful for my coworkers for reassuring me when I doubted my abilities. And I'm thankful for all my other friends for the warmth they've given me over the year.

Savannah
I’m thankful for many things in my life. I’m thankful I graduate college in December as a double major in English and Communication. I’m thankful for my family for being so supportive of me in everything I try to accomplish and my friends for always being there for me and I’m thankful for having the opportunity to work for NOOGAtoday and to learn and grow.

So, what are you thankful for, Chattanooga?

Whether it’s food, community or football, let us know.