There are so many people in my life that I am thankful for. I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the encouragement, support, and love of all the wonderful people in my life. I didn’t have a perfect childhood, but what I did have was a loving family. Sometimes during the holidays it’s easy to get wrapped up in the greed, and we tend to forget about the real reason we’re celebrating, which is love. So, for my Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Other present to everyone I’m going to write some thank you’s to all my wonderful people in my life.

Thank you for always telling me that I can achieve anything. I think the reason that I became such an ambitious young woman is largely due to the fact that my family always told me I could be whatever I wanted when I grew up. My mom and my brothers always encouraged me to be the best in life, regardless of my gender. I always felt like they nurtured my dreams, and that’s not something that you can put a price on.

Thank you for making me feel beautiful. People who know me understand that I deal with the same body issues that everyone else does. Some days I hate myself, and it’s hard to feel pretty. That’s why I cherish all my friends who constantly tell me that I am beautiful. You may get tired of saying it, but just know that without you telling me this, I don’t know what would happen. You help me love myself a little more each day, and I can't tell you how much it means to me.

Thank you for always listening to me, even when I just need to rant for a little while! If you know me, you know that I like to talk... kind of a lot. It would be very easy for you guys to tell me to shut up or that you’re too busy to talk. But, the people in my life always seem to listen to me. I may not really say anything of substance most of the time, but you guys give me the chance to develop a voice for myself. I appreciate y’all hanging in there with me.

Thank you for making me feel safe. Life is uncertain, and you really never know what will happen next. As a person with anxiety, this is honestly my worst nightmare. My family, especially my mom, has seen me go through countless panic attacks. But, despite this my family and friends seem to have a way of calming me down and making me feel like nothing will ever hurt me. No medicine could ever make me feel as at peace as my mom or my best friends, and that's not a gift you can wrap.

Thank you for always letting me be myself. I'm a neurotic weirdo who most people probably find annoying. But, my family and friends aren't most people. They are the best f**ckin' people in the world, and I love them more than anything else. They not only put up with me, but they actually want to spend time with me. I guess crazy attracts crazy, right?!

There is so much more I could say to my support system out there, but it all really comes down to the fact that I love you all. I wouldn't be who I am without everyone who is in my life. I am a little piece of each of you, and I hope you keep everyone you love in your mind this holiday season. It's easy to buy someone a gift, but telling them how much you mean to them is a little harder (but it's worth a hell of a lot more).