With this past Thursday being Thanksgiving, it's not unusual that most people find themselves reflecting on all the things they are grateful for. And when asked what they are thankful for, people tend to list their family, friends, good health, and all those usual things. But this Thanksgiving and holiday season, I think we should challenge ourselves a little more and should try to think of something we wouldn't normally be thankful for.

It's easy to be thankful for all the happy and good times in our lives. However, I believe that it's actually the hard times that we should be more thankful for. It may seem odd to celebrate the bad things in our life, but without those hard times, could we ever truly appreciate the good? No one asks for something bad to happen to them and yet, it still happens. But realizing that challenging times are just a part of life shouldn't make us feel hopeless, but rather the opposite! A hard time now means something better is still to come and it's our choice to have faith in that.

There is a beauty in the struggle, but you have to be willing to see it. It may sound like a cliche, but the darkest part of the night really is always just before the dawn. The happiest people didn't become that way because they got everything they wanted. It's usually quite the opposite! But people like that learned to use the hard times in life to their advantage. Failure forces you to think about how bad you really want something. If you fail at something and don't want to even try again, then you didn't want it enough to begin with. The best things in life never come easy and that is part of what makes them so special. It makes you learn from your mistake and pushes you forward more than endless success ever could. So don't ignore or block these times out. Instead, remember them and find a way to turn it into something good.

During the holidays, it can be especially hard to look on the bad times and find a way to make them good. When we notice people missing from our Thanksgiving tables, it's much easier to become angry or sad because of their loss. But instead of focusing so much on the time that they aren't with us, we have to be even more thankful for the time we did have with them. And it's more than just our personal lives that we have to take this attitude with. We all experience setbacks at work or in school, but it's that bad test grade that will help you study harder for the next one. Or what about all the hard losses that comes with playing sports? If you want to truly play the game, then you have to learn from the losses in order to get the next one. Learning what areas you are weak in can be more helpful then being constantly reminded of your strengths. Not only does it make you mentally stronger, but it also keeps you humble.

So this holiday season, let's remember to be thankful for more than just the good times. I know we all have moments where it feels like we can't go on. But it's important to remember that if you're reading this, then you've already proved yourself wrong. The tough times in life keep us moving forward and reaching for something better. So find the beauty in the struggle and be thankful for those dark moments that came before the light.