4. I’m thankful for friends who make me mixed tapes.

My friend Katie knows that I have a big doctor appointment coming up, and that I’m a little worried about it, so she responded by praying for me. And making me a mixed tape of praise songs about healing. I’m in mixed tape heaven.

A few weeks after Mr. Right and I started dating, he surprised me with a mixed tape. I used to listen to it over and over and feel all googly.

For almost a decade my two sisters and I used to make “Breakup CDs” for each other. They were filled with Beyonce girl power anthems and fist-pump-inducing “I don’t need boys to make me happy” songs. They were good for my 22-year-old soul.

I heart mixed tapes.

After I finished survived grad school, I threw myself a big graduation party and made a mixed tape party favor for all of my guests. Not to brag or anything, but people are still talking about its awesomeness. And because I like you, I thought I’d let you in on the playlist: