Your 38th birthday isn't usually a milestone birthday. But if you've had heart surgery in the past year as well as seen some close to you endure expected and horrifically unexpected tragedies, you get a bit of perspective and hopefully, you grow to appreciate things more than you did in the past.

Having said that, I'd like to list a couple of things I'm thankful for as I turn 38 years old, and more importantly, am still here to turn anything at all:

I'm thankful for my two girls in more ways than I ever thought I could be.

I'm thankful that I have so many parents, step-parents and parents in law that are so good to us and so generous.

I'm thankful (obviously) to have been given a second chance to do something with my life.

I'm thankful that I have better friends than I deserve sometimes.

I'm thankful for both of our families in general, both near and far.

I'm thankful for simple things like dogs, good friends and neighbors with good kids, a good job and in general a good life.

I'm thankful for friends and cold beers on a nice, hot summer day.

I'm thankful that others have been as fortunate as I have in that they got medical help for similar problems that I had and will be able to have a second chance as well.

I'm thankful for the ability to appreciate what I have in life.

But most of all, I'm thankful for my wife for many reasons. She gave me our two amazing (and occasionally challenging) daughters. She believed that I could be a decent parent. She's made me a better parent, son, uncle and husband. And she loves me unconditionally, which is the best one of them all.

I know it's not your birthday, but each one of you should take a second and think about the things you're thankful for in life. You'd be surprised at how long your list might be.