There is so much to be thankful for this year, despite the fact that I do a lot of complaining! In the new year, Thanksgiving isn’t just something I wasn’t to remember in November. I want to practice more acts and feelings of gratitude than ever before, even when it’s hard to feel it. I hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with family, friends, and satiating food! Here are ten things I’m thankful for this year:
1.) God
Honestly, I wouldn’t get through anything without Him. I can’t be more thankful for a God who will stick with me and continue to bless me even when I daily come up short of Him.
2.) Friends
Emily has been with me through the thick and thin of it all. Without her, I sometimes think I’d surely go crazy. I’m also grateful for the wonderful people I’ve met through her, and for having my old high school buddy, Brittany, back in my life. She’s totes awesome.
3.) Family
We may not always see eye to eye, and they may drive me crazy at times, but I love them. They’ve given me a lot, and even though I’m technically supposed to be out on my own now, they still help me out so that I won’t struggle so much in this new grown-up life.
4.) Graduation
At times, I seriously considered dropping out of college and there were days and weeks when I felt absolutely miserable there, but I’m glad I had people in my life and my own will to push me through to graduation. I’m so thankful to have my B.A. in English!
5.) Co-workers
You don’t always get the benefit of liking the people you work with, so I’m enormously grateful to work with the people I work with at the bank. They make the days so much more enjoyable and always, always, always make me laugh!
6.) Writing
Over the years, I’ve come to understand that writing is the key to everything for me. It was actually an epiphany I had while brushing my teeth last night. It just came to me that the key to getting the life I want and am meant to have is through my writing, so that’s the thing to focus on for me when I start worrying about things. The answer? Write.
7.) Social Networking
Without blogging, I wouldn’t have good friends like Stephany, Cassie, Tom, Melissa, and others who live near and far but whose writing is just a click away. I’m so grateful to be able to pour my heart out on my blog and to discuss others’ thoughts on life through the Internet. I’ve virtually met a lot of great people through my little space here, and I honestly consider y’all true friends.
8.) Books
Books are my life. They got me through difficult times growing up and they continue to teach me life lessons I need everyday. I love to read them, I love to write them, I love to hold them and just look at them. It’s true what Em said to me the other day, “You have a love affair with books.” And I’m thankful for it, always.
9.) Love
Even though it can be hard for me to express it, and sometimes hard for me to feel it, I’m glad to have it. There is nothing more exhilarating than feeling overwhelming love, and I am sure we’d be doomed without it. Just ask Voldemort.
10.) Gratitude
Thankfulness does a lot for us. It requires us to acknowledge someone and to humble ourselves. It requires us to feel and to think and to truly appreciate the affect someone has in our life. It is something we should practice everyday, and I’m going to make it a point to complain less and thank more for the rest of the year into the next.
Have a wonderful day everyone!
