Thanksgiving day on social media will be flooded with pictures of enormous spreads of food, girls shouting out how thankful they are for their boyfriends/parents/families/dogs, guys shot gunning on the porch with the caption "thankful for the beers",girls in their most fabulous thanksgiving outfits and the occasional guy who feels compelled to shout out his mom for making a truly magnificent turkey. While speaking out about what we're thankful for on Thanksgiving seems cliche and basic, it really does give us a time to think about how lucky we really are in the grand scheme of things. With so much hardship going on around the world and around the corner, we owe it to ourselves to reflect on what we are most grateful for. This list does not go in order of importance- I do in fact see my family as more important than dogs.
1. Being cozy.
Warm blankets and fuzzy socks really make the chilliest less awful.
2. Dogs.
I mean who DOESN'T absolutely love dogs.
3. Good friends.
They make the best days better and the worsts days worth living through with the help of a good laugh, a bottle of wine, and an enormous pizza.
4. Bad friends.
They make you see how incredibly blessed you are to be loved by the good ones.
5. A home cooked meal.
Cooking for yourself doesn't even compare to coming home to dinner from mom.
6. My parents.
I honestly don't know what I would do, who I would be or where I would be in this life without them. Being at college really makes you miss your parents and for me, it made me appreciate my relationship with my mom and dad even more than I ever have before. I love you guys to the moon!
7. My sister.
She makes me appreciate having someone who is my permanent best friend, confidant, and partner in crime while also having someone to constantly exchange clothes with!
8. My boyfriend.
(Please don't be offended you aren't number one. To be fair, I did just write a ballad about you..love you!) Thank you for keeping me grounded, making me laugh, and buying me food.
9. My car.
I would be chasing down Septa buses if it wasn't for you.
10. A good laugh.
11. Running.
Hate doing it. Hate it. But in the end you have to be thankful you have two legs to get you from point A to point B, and lungs to carry you through that journey (and help you sweat out the weekend endevours).
12. Teaching.
My college experience recently has really reaffirmed for me why I am becoming a teacher and what a true blessing it is to teach the children of the future. Watching them grow and make connections as they go through life really puts things in perspective for me as an adult.
13. The kindness of a stranger.
A girl telling me she likes my scarf literally makes my whole day.
14. An internet connection.
Thank you for the endless hours spent on Netlix and allowing me to not only look up clothing online, but buy it in the same moment.
15. Pizza.
I can't imagine living in a world where I can't eat pizza 6-12 times a week.
16. My faith.
Your faith. Freedom of religion. Even though oppression may not effect me directly, I know that it is happening and I'm thankful for my faith.
17. A good cry.
Sometimes the tears just need to flow and continue to flow until you feel better sister.
18. The rest of my family.
Grandparents, Cousins, Aunts and Uncles. Thank you for being you, and helping me become the young woman that I am today. There aren't enough words for my love for you all. Baby cousins- thank you for letting me constantly photograph you and watch you grow up.
19. My boyfriend's family.
Thank you for making me a part of your family. You're all so important to me in more ways than I can express.
20. Planners. Sticky notes. Highlighters. Colored pens. Calendars.
You guys get me through school and make my life more organized and less overwhelming.
21. My team.
I love all of you to death. Thanks for being the most stone cold pack of weirdos I have ever met in my life.
I could go on for days about how thankful I am for the things in my life. This Thanksgiving take the extra second to reflect on all the blessings you have. No matter what, we all have something to be grateful for.
