Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. One, because food… Obviously. Two, because it gives me a reason to sit and reflect on all the things in my life and in the world that I am thankful for. With 2016 being the year that it has been, it was hard to come up with a list that wasn’t sarcastic. But alas, I was able to dig deep, and make a list of all the things I am thankful from this past year.

1. My family

I know this one is kind of cliché. Everyone always says that they are thankful for their family, but I truly and forever will be thankful for mine. I made some very scary decisions this year, and everything has gone beautifully thanks to the support and encouragement of my family. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have the opportunities that I have, and I definitely would not feel as successful as I do.

2. Dog Pictures

You might remember the list of dog pictures that I put together a couple of weeks ago. With the stress and anxiety that came with this year, for a while, the dogs pictures and videos were the only thing that could get me to smile. My favorite thing, is that once a few of my friends caught on to this, I was getting sent random pictures of dogs almost daily. And if I can’t be thankful for puppies, what can I be thankful for?

3. My School

Keystone College. I smile just typing out the school’s name. Keystone College is positively the most unique place I’ve ever been to. Once you step on campus, it’s like reality is just a little bit shifted. I knew I had struck gold with this school at my first visit, and Keystone has done nothing but continuously prove to me how great they are, from the professors, the staff, the students, the clubs and organizations, everyone is just perfect. I have never felt like I belong somewhere more than I do at Keystone.

4. Mindfulness

I’ve known of the practice of being mindful, and I’ve used it a few times in the past, but I didn’t really learn the value of being mindful until this year. Per Google, the definition of mindfulness is “a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.” Practicing mindfulness is the only way that I can maneuver my life's full plate, and I recommend the technique to anyone who may be feeling overwhelmed in any life situation.

5. My Grandmom

You may remember Grandmom Cesaretti from my list of favorite things about living with a grandparent. She is forever someone that I am thankful for. The bond that we have is irreplaceable, and getting to spend my days with her makes life so special.

So, even with the craziness of 2016, I could come up with a sincere list of reasons to be thankful this year. Share your lists with me, as I’d love to read them and see if there was anything I missed on my list!