Nell Anne Hunt of Irving: Truly I believe that the most significant resources we have in North Texas are the people. Just look at the great amount of volunteerism and the arts and educational opportunities. North Texas folks have determined to bloom where they are planted, and they have produced a cornucopia of blessings.

Paul LeBon of Highland Village: Friday night high school Football. From the pre-game buildup through the game to the pageantry of the halftime performances, it's the best $6 family entertainment around.

Judy Gaman of Southlake: We take the great people of our community for granted. If you travel outside our great state, you will see that friendly, courteous people are much harder to come by. I appreciate the smiles, waves and manners of those in North Texas.

Pat Justice of Flower Mound: North Texans take for granted what everyone else takes for granted. We tend to focus on the things that are wrong, like the economy, instead of focusing on the things that are right in our lives, like our healthy families, our wonderful children and grandchildren and great friends. It's very hard not to worry, but we should all savor what's good in our lives and stop dwelling so much on the negative.

Linda Lancaster of Arlington: We take our wonderful emergency services employees for granted. They do a terrific job of answering calls and protecting us from crime, fire and medical emergencies while putting their lives in danger.

Kelley McElreath of Grand Prairie: Southern hospitality! I lived in the Pacific Northwest for a couple of years, and everyone seemed shocked by my natural hospitality. It wasn't until then that I realized what an awesome gift I have just being from the South.

Sarah Ann Barnes of Lewisville: North Texans take for granted our opportunities for higher education. For a region with such a large number of diverse colleges and universities, we have some of the worst public schools in the nation.

Lynn Walters of Irving: The many volunteers who do so many things to enrich our community: share their love of music, art, dance, drama; feed the hungry; tutor children; visit the elderly; wrap presents at holiday time; put on events to educate the community; register people to vote. Without volunteers, our communities would not be nearly as viable and livable as they are now.

Jim Dyer of Carrollton: The beautiful weather.

Bob Roper of Duncanville: North Texans take for granted the great interstate highway system, the wide variety of high school, college and professional sports teams, the local arts district, the outstanding medical facilities, and reasonable taxes. Compare it with any other location you have lived in, and it always comes out on top. We have much to be thankful for, in spite of the occasional need to push our politicians for more.

Ron McKillip of Carrollton: Sundance Square, five major lakes, Hell's Half Acre, five pro sports teams, the Fort Worth Stockyards, beautiful February days, White Rock Lake, two major airports, central location to the coasts, superior Mexican food, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, Casa Ma?ana, Kimbell Art Museum, the Water Gardens and the West End.

Jim Batts of Oak Point: Water. Cool, clear water. We take it for granted that we always will have water, despite urban sprawl that siphons our supply.

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Tina Sanchez

Taxpayer advocate at federal agency, Pleasant Grove

I am really thankful for the Trinity River Audubon Center. Hopefully all Dallasites will get out and visit this amazing tribute to the Great Trinity Forest in southeast Dallas.

Satvika Ananth

Junior, Coppell High School

North Texans take giving for granted. We live in a wonderful community where many charitable organizations are established and supported, like Metrocrest and the North Texas Food Bank. It's important for us to all remember that such organizations survive through the goodness of other North Texans. it is our duty to continue the tradition of giving.

Kirk Vaclavik

Senior, Carrollton Christian Academy

North Texans take for granted the tremendous diversity of local regions. Urban lanes, suburban streets and rural routes all intertwine in this so-very-Texan metropolis.

Norma Urban-Palomarez

Fifth-grade bilingual, Southridge Elementary, Lewisville ISD

By and large, North Texans take our proximity to lakes, woodlands and parks in both North Texas and Oklahoma for granted. When you grow up in South Texas, you don't realize how wonderful it is to go somewhere to get a walk in the woods or to drop a line in the water, and there are plenty of woods and lakes in the area.

Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular contributors to this forum.

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