This year has undoubtedly been full of surprises – for most of us, we’ve had to adjust to changes in routine, limit visits with loved ones, or accommodate remote school or work. Even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we think it’s more important than ever to recognize all the things we have to be grateful for this year.

We asked a few of our employees to share what it is that they’re most grateful for as we head into the holiday season, and here’s what they said:

1. Connectivity. “2020 has been a really difficult year for all of us, but there are a lot of things to be thankful for if we look for them! The thing that I am most grateful for this year has been the ability to connect more with my family. The simple things like getting to say good morning each day, cooking dinner together on weeknights, grading my son’s homework, and playing with our puppy have helped us to grow even closer together.” -Brandon Lin, Director of Business Process Transformation

2. Self-Care. “Self-care is essential, especially around the holidays, but even more so this year. 2020 has taught us many lessons, and taking care of ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually is important to me. During the holidays, I usually relax by dedicating time for an early morning run, spend a few minutes meditating and the rest of the days loving on my family, which includes my Yorkshire Terrier, Maxx. Taking care of myself is essential when also needing to care for others.” -Wednesdá Furman, Director of HR

3. Memories. “As Thanksgiving approaches, I realize this year will be very different. It makes me extremely thankful for memories of past Thanksgivings and the traditions that have been passed down over the years. I’m also thankful for family who are willing to do things differently this year to make the ‘Pandemic Thanksgiving’ a safe and memorable one.” -Tammy Jones, Loss Control Engineer, Corporate Risk Department

4. Friends and Family. “I’m grateful for my friends and family. This being a really difficult year to work with all the changes taking place in the world, we tend to lean on the ones we love and care the most for support – especially when we don’t know what’s around the corner. But friends and family will always be there to get you through the tough times.” -Brent Hardesty, Systems Administrator

5. Technology. “I’m thankful for the way this year has helped me better connect with my friends and family who live far away. As I started using more virtual hangouts and video chats as creative ways to socialize while social distancing, I’ve gotten closer to some of my out-of-state friends as a result. It has been a huge silver lining of the pandemic.”  -Megan McManus, IT Trainer, Tech Adoption Team