I am surrounded by numerous gifts in my life. I have been blessed with people and places that tug on my heartstrings and fill my face with a smile. Besides the obvious food, clothing, water, etc., I have been given relationships that have taught me important life lessons, opportunities that give me the chance to leave a mark on the world and gifts that fill me with joy.
I try to remind myself to list those blessings in my head if I ever find myself naming complaint after complaint. Whenever I'm feeling less than, I have to say these words:
Thank you for my parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and the rest of my family who have provided me a lifetime supply of religious inspiration, love and laughs. I am able to run to them in stress, in celebratory fashion and even if I want a warm meal. My loving family has given me countless gifts and support.
Thank you for my friends. The girls and boys I can go to with secrets that I can't hold inside. The people that will do the stupidest of things and deal with the consequences. The people that will help me learn how to be a good friend.
Thank you for my church. It has given me a place to feel as though I can truly be myself. It reminds me that there's something above me and watching over the world. It has given me friends and wisdom that I'm not sure where else can be.
Thank you for my education. Women before me didn't get to go to class. Yes, this homework can provide stressors that create pimples on my face and sometimes that reading sounds like the absolute worse thing to engage in when I could be watching YouTube videos. Whenever this happens, I try to remind myself that people aren't always educated. Some people don't get to go get an education. I need to remember to take iti seriously.
Thank you for these gifts.
I have been given so much.