This past month alone has allowed me to reflect on things in life that I truly appreciate. I would always show appreciation toward most things, but it wasn’t until I came home this summer that I truly began to understand what gratitude really is. Instead of explaining the concept in a lengthy description of my thoughts, I figured I’d make a list of some of the things that I learned to appreciate in their entirety.
1. My family.
Beyond the basic values people learn in their family lives, my own family has allowed me to learn to think for myself. Listening to the way they feel about certain ideas, as well as the way they express them, has led me to discover, after much thought, how I feel about those ideas. I’ve discovered that I may not always feel the same way as they do, but that’s perfectly acceptable.
2. College opportunities.
This year has brought me opportunities that I didn’t expect—and it’s only the first year. Whether it was a friend inviting me to participate in an acting gig or a chance to be at a press conference with the governor, the first year amazed me with its offers of eye-opening experiences.
3. Friends.
Now I am lucky enough to have two groups of friends: friends from home and college friends. Both groups have created a sense of attachment to each place. Because I can’t be in two places at once, it’s a little difficult and sad to leave one group for the other. What this hardship has taught me is that I should appreciate the time I do get to spend with them. When I do appreciate being with each group, it makes the memories we create together all the more valuable. I've also learned to enjoy that each group finds enjoyment in different things. I will say that something I share an appreciation for in both groups is the ability to find new and delicious places to eat.
4. Bad experiences.
Bungled challenges. Soiled friendships. Broken goals. At the time, these terrible travesties seemed to dampen my glimpse at the future and any hope of success. How could I ever recover from the failures I’d never expected to endure? Simple. Appreciate them. Sure, it might seem like the end of the world now (from a drama queen’s perspective, at least), but this mishap will eventually be a distantly insignificant memory. Before it wastes away forever, though, it may serve as a lesson. Everyone experiences failures. They can either be a total blockage or a step into the right direction. With a positive and forward-thinking outlook, we can easily turn these horrible downfalls into helpful directions.
5. My past.
How many of us cringe with embarrassment, guilt or dread when our minds flicker back to our pasts? We often think back to the past, wishing times were still the same, or maybe we shun it altogether and try our hardest to forget it. There were moments in my past that I’d grow physically uncomfortable just thinking about. After taking a close look at where I was currently, however, I realized that I made it through those dark and scary times, and with the other aspects of the past, I grew stronger and became the person I am today. Even with that in mind, I’ve become more grateful for the past events and various activities I had participated in. No matter how trivial, I realized that everything I was able to partake in was a gift; it became a new experience under my belt.
