As Thanksgiving has come and gone, I've been reflecting recently on the action of being thankful. Growing up, I was raised in a super Southern family that instilled the value of thankfulness in my life. Therefore, it's always been rattling around somewhere in my mind.

However, I think a lot of people can agree that, when you have anxiety or depression, it can be really difficult to remain in a state of thankfulness or even take a minuscule amount of time to remember what you're thankful for. Because of this, I've struggled with the thought that people around me may think I take the good things in my life for granted. And, I promise, I don't.

Anxiety and depression make many areas of life tough, but one thing it seems to do very well is take away from the good areas of life - such as thankfulness, good memories, fun events, etc. It's a struggle, but it also means that when you do overcome those things in your life, the good things seem even better because you realize how much you had to fight to come out on top.

When I'm in the depths of my anxiety, it is hard for me to think about good and positive things, I'll admit it. And sometimes, because of that, I miss out on great opportunities for joy until after they've already passed me by.

But that doesn't mean I'm not thankful.

Like any emotion, just because I don't outwardly show it doesn't mean it's nonexistent.

I thank GOD for my family. Lord knows, they've put up with a lot of stuff from me and a lot of tough times that they've had to carry me through because I couldn't stand on my own. They're the real MVPs.

I am thankful for my friends, both at college and at home. I'm an introvert, so making friends is a bit nerve-racking to me. Therefore, I recognize just how amazing the friends I do have are and all they bring to my life.

I am thankful for the opportunity to seek further education at college. I know how fortunate I am and how many people would love to go to college, but simply can't. I also don't plan on taking this time in my life for granted at all.

I am thankful for hobbies and talents that God has given me. I'm thankful for my love of reading, for being able to write for Odyssey, for dancing, and so many other things I have in my life.

But, I am MOST thankful for God and the fact that He wanted a relationship with His children so much that Christ served us on Earth and paid all the debts we had so that we could be connected back to our Heavenly parent. I am SO SO thankful for that because that's the biggest reason I am still on this planet. It's the reason I have any strength to get up every day and live this wonderful life I have.

All of this isn't meant to be an opportunity for me to brag about how fortunate I am. It's not. It's simply me taking the time to remind myself, when I'm not anxious, about all the good things in life. That way, when I am anxious, I can recollect this moment in time and pull myself up by my bootstraps, as they say.

People that have anxiety and/or depression are not ungrateful. It just makes it even more wonderful when we can get past our mental condition and be thankful anyway.