I know it isn't exactly traditional to think of erotic stuff when you're making out your Thanksgiving list each year. But erotica is my thing, so it's not so strange that the idea would occur to me. I also have a bit broader interpretation of "the erotic" than most, and happen to believe that this is a force that benefits the human race a lot more than you may think. Many of life's joys, lots of creative production, and an abundance of positive energy derives from the erotic. So why not pause to be grateful for some of those lovely things?

When compiling your own personal erotic Thanksgiving list, don't limit yourself to overly sex-related stuff. Even I admit it's weird to be thankful for your favorite porn movie (although I will say, I'm thankful for Andrew Blake for raising the bar on those sorts of films to make them tolerable to females). It may help to think of things that only effect you because you are a sexual being. That opens the list up to include all kinds of items that are romantic and arousing to the heart without necessarily involving anybody getting naked.

I'll share my list with you to give you the general idea. Now let's see....

1. Hugh Jackman's smile. The most infectious, charming, mood-enhancing facial expression imaginable.

2. The way Josh Groban sings his L's. I know it's weird, but I find myself waiting for certain lyrics in his songs, just to hear that liquid sound.

3. Science guys. The fact that someone as goofy-looking as Adam Savage of "MythBusters" can actually be sexy, attests to the charm of understanding physics and being able to build stuff.

4. Scholars. How cool is it, for example, to watch Buckaroo Bonzai/Robocop star Peter Weller expound on Roman architecture? I'm telling you, smart = sexy.

5. Survival guys. My year owes a lot to Les Stroud of "Survivorman," whose survival exploits not only impress and inspire, but get a little fire going down inside you too.

6. Office guys. Somehow NBC's "The Office" reminds you just how ordinary guys can be as delightful as the exceptional ones. Dwight's a nerd but his insanity is kinda alluring in its way. Ryan the Temp is just hot. And Jim...well, need I say more?

7. Halloween. This year my office party included two guys dressing up as superheroes--the ordinary transformed into the exceptional--and that was quite a treat. Interesting.

8. Fauns. Well, as regular readers of this column know, one particular faun: Mr. Tumnus as portrayed by James McAvoy. Fauns are such wild yet cozy creatures, you gotta love them. (I should mention, a third guy at my office Halloween party dressed as a faun. Yay!)

9. The resurgence of ballroom dance. So glad the networks decided dancing shows are in. My life has been greatly brightened by John O' Hurley of "Dancing with the Stars" and both Benji and Travis of "So You Think You Can Dance."

10. Runners. There's nothing like hanging out before an 8K race and simply admiring all those toned calves and hamstrings. Watching their endurance also has its effect; makes you just want to try harder at everything.

11. Drummers. Well, my personal favorite is Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater. It's such a thrill to watch him convert energy into a beat so powerful it actually impacts your psyche.

12. Long coats. It's amazing how something so simple as a long coat can just send you. In black, it's Neo from "The Matrix"; in brown, it's Captain Malcolm Reynolds from "Serenity."

13. Pirates. Captain Jack Sparrow has not gone out of vogue yet.

14. Captains in general. Commander William Adama of "Battlestar Gallactica" may be war-worn and pock-marked, but his noble and authoritative command of the Colonial Fleet just makes a person quiver.

15. IMDB. How often has the Internet Movie Database helped you track down some attractive fellow you spotted in the media?

16. Wikipedia. How often have you gotten the full scoop on a new idol by checking him out in this awesome online encyclopedia?

17. Google Images. How often have you scored some excellent photos of said person by using this fabulous search engine?

18. John Williams. The septuagenarian composer may not be everyone's idea of sexy, but he has brought such exquisite pleasure to my ears for so many decades, I have to have him on the list.

19. Chefs. Who says the way to a woman's heart isn't through her stomach? My dream date would be having Harold of last season's Top Chef make me something flambéed. Cooking shows, another great fad....

20. Lions. Now I'm not advocating bestiality here (I wrote about that once before), but when a lion has Liam Neeson's voice like Aslan in "Narnia," you just want to hang around his lair and listen to him talk, hey?

Well, I guess I'll stop there for now. But the nice thing about life is that erotic stuff just keeps popping up afresh and making life worth living. A big THANK YOU for all the things that spark, enliven, titillate, warm, arouse, cheer, excite and just give the life flowing.

Now please pass the turkey....

Diana Laurence is the author of the Soulful Sex anthologies, most recently "Soulful Sex: The Paranormal Collection." Visit her at www.dianalaurence.com.