Having a family to celebrate the holidays with.

Though the holidays are a crazy time, remember that some people don't have a family to enjoy a loud dinner or to sit and share presents with. Not everyone wakes up on Thanksgiving to the low roar of voices filled with joy in their kitchen with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the TV. And some of your friends don't get to go home to two parents. Keep this in mind next time you're unsatisfied with a gift or one of the foods on your plate.

That drive home from school during the holidays.

Before you get in the car to drive home for that break you've been dying for, remember that you have a second home. You're blessed with the opportunity of getting an education away from home. Keep this in mind when a present isn't quite what you wanted, your mom probably had to pay the school some big fees so you could register for spring classes; those knock off Uggs she surprised you with are perfect.

Your home.

I don't mean your house. When you pull into your driveway after the car ride, don't just grab your things and run in to pet your dog. Take a moment and look around you. You live in a free country where they let you go home to eat, shop and have fun with your family. You don't live in a war-struck town where people live in constant fear, and it's all right for your family to have a festive christmas flag waving above a nativity scene on your front lawn; you should appreciate that.

Your parents.

Sure, these might be the ones who wake you up way too early on Thanksgiving to watch the parade, make you hug everyone in the house or embarrass you in front of the rest of your family. But, these are the people in your life that you should be the most thankful for. Look around you, you'd probably be nowhere without them, and I'm not sure who else would make those amazing holiday dinners you look forward to every year. Think about all that they've done for you and all that they are doing for the rest of your family too. My parents are the people who have always been there for me, they're the reason this amazing life I have is normal in my mind. Not everyone is this fortunate and we all need to remember that.

Your health.

Being in good health is something even I take for granted. As a student, when I get a cold I can walk into the health center on campus, grab a paper bag marked "cold" and have my hands on everything I need to get better: score. Having a cold for the holidays can be a real damper, but remember that some people have bigger things to stress over than a cold. There are families who are driving to the hospital on Thanksgiving to be with their loved ones while you're going to Target for those Black Friday sales. And while you're mad over a stuffy nose, I'm sure there's someone who wishes they were well enough to make it to their family's celebration in the first place.

The holiday season that is approaching us may be a stressful time, but next time you're frustrated at something take a step back and think about how grateful you should actually be. Having food on the table isn't something that everyone experiences, and there are people who would trade a day of their life for an hour of yours, so please, remember what they holidays are really about and be thankful.