Even in 2020, much to be thankful for today

This traditionally is a day to take a step back and appreciate what we have in our lives, big and small, and give thanks for it. But this year? What are we supposed to be thankful for in November 2020?

Actually, there's a lot.

Though this certainly has been among the most trying years any of has ever experienced, there have been some silver linings. Block out the big ugly things, if you can, and think about the little things we were treated to this year.

We got to watch a baseball season. No, it wasn't a full season. And the vast majority of us weren't allowed to watch it in person. But think about how much more miserable 2020 would've been had we not had a single ballgame to watch from July through October. The results may not have been what Nationals fans hoped for, but as anyone who sat through 33 long, cold years with no hometown team can attest, any baseball is better than no baseball.

Be thankful for Juan Soto, who on the heels of his remarkable 2019 season somehow found a way to be an even more productive hitter. Who knows if he would've been able to keep up his torrid pace over a 162-game campaign. But the 47 games he did play were as good as anything we've seen around here and reminded us all we are witnessing true greatness before our eyes. And the best is still yet to come.

The 2020 season also gave us Trea Turner, who proved he is so much more than one of the league's best table-setters. He's one of the league's best offensive players, period. For a prolonged stretch in August, he was better than Soto has ever been over a comparable period of time. Yeah, he was that good. And there's every reason to believe this is who he will continue to be.

Plenty of positive events happened in 2020 that might not have been possible in a normal year. Luis García made his major league debut and flashed his massive potential. Kyle Finnegan, Dakota Bacus, Wil Crowe, Ben Braymer and Seth Romero all got to make their debuts, some having been forced to wait longer than others. And speaking of long waits, how about Yadiel Hernández debuting as a 32-year-old rookie and walking off the Phillies for his first career homer?

Oh, and for the first time in club history, the Nationals locked up their manager long-term. And ensured their general manager won't be going anywhere else, either.

On a personal level, there is much to be thankful for today. Thankful for my family's health. Thankful to have been able to continuing doing my job when so many others sadly have not. Thankful to have had the opportunity to spend so much time with my wife and son, far more than in any previous year we've known each other.

And most importantly, thankful to have all of you reading, commenting, interacting, correcting, suggesting, loving, hating, introducing, imploring and otherwise engaging with me this year and every year thanks to our shared passion of baseball in the nation's capital.

I wish you all a safe, healthy, happy Thanksgiving filled with gratitude for what we have right now, and the promise of better days spent together very soon.