Thanksgiving; A holiday in which we celebrate and profess thanks for the things that mean the most to us. As kids growing up we were often asked to write down the things we were most thankful for on little turkey cutouts. Naturally we wrote our families, friends, pets etc. However, at that age it was hard to understand why we were thankful for those things. With this being one of the most transitional years of my life, it has been through this year that I have been able to truly understand the meaning of thanks behind the things that seem so simple to us.
Family. It is something we often take for granted. Family is natural for many of us, for we have always been surrounded by their constant love and support. Flash forward 18 years and everything changes. I now live 500 miles away from my family and although the constant love and support has not gone away, it is different. I realize just how thankful I am for the little things that once annoyed me. For the unconditional support they constantly provide me. For the outpouring support they give me through all my spontaneous decisions. I am thankful for the laughter we share even if it has to take place over a virtual device. Oh, and you cant forget about the home cooked meals. It is through my family that I have been given the opportunity to succeed and for that I could not be more thankful. My family has made me the person I am today, and without them I would never have made it to this point and for that alone that they deserve all the thanks in the world.
Friends. They are a constant part of our life. Some we have known forever, and some we have just met. Each play a large role in our lives and without them we wouldn't be the people we are today. This year was filled with many friend shifts. Suddenly I had to leave the friends I had grown up with my whole life and make new friends in an place where I knew no one. I am thankful for the friends who supported me and pushed me through everything growing up. I am thankful for the friends I still keep in contact with, and even the ones I don't get to talk to everyday. However I am also very thankful for the friends who have accepted me with open arms here at school. I am thankful for the memories I have made, and the memories I will continue to make. For friends both near and far this transition would never of been possible without you. Thank you for that.
New opportunity. This year has been full of it. Sitting here writing in a college dorm room alone has already presented me with more opportunity than I had in the past. After all who would have ever thought that I would end up in Omaha Nebraska for college. Certainly not me. And although Omaha sure has it’s quirks… I could not be more thankful for the opportunities that have presented themselves. I am thankful for the ability to study nursing so that one day I too can give back to the community and change lives. I am thankful for the independence I have gained, and the ability to be less reliant on others but more only on myself. I am thankful for the happiness that has developed from coming to a new place. But most importantly I am thankful for the opportunity to be myself, and truly express myself.
In a year full of transitions reflecting on the things that have made us most thankful should practically be required. Family, friends and new opportunity are the top three things that have impacted me this year however the list of thanks could go on and on. As the rest of the holiday seasons approach I hope we can all remain thankful. We live in a good world, and there is a lot to be thankful for. So even if you have write it out on a paper turkey like when you were five I challenge you to think about all the things that you are most thankful for.
