The words "Thank You" seem so simple to utter, but I find myself struggling to say them enough. It's not that I'm not thankful, I just take a lot for granted. There are so many things that happen to me on a daily basis that I feel like I could spend my entire day just showing gratitude, but I don't. I can't tell you why I don't think to stay it more often, but I am guilty of not showing enough appreciation to the people that truly deserve it.

Now, if you've never heard "you ungrateful, unappreciative (finish with the choice profanity your parents were partial to)" you didn't have a real childhood. I was victim and guilty of the statement 90% of my life. I've lived a fairly comfortable and privileged life, with a lot to say thank you for, but I'll be the first to tell you that I definitely never showed how thankful I was. As a teenager, "thank you" isn't in your vocabulary, so this is an apology to all the parents out there that have experienced the entitled, unappreciative child. Here's to all the people that have gone above and beyond for me and my appreciation seemed to have escaped me and the family that went my whole life with just a handful of thanks from me. Thank you to my parents who made me want for, literally, nothing in my life, made it possible for me to achieve all my dreams, and lived not so comfortably to make sure I never felt the hard times. Thank you to my siblings that stood in the background and always let me shine, who paid for my meals without batting an eye, chauffeured me around like you actually enjoyed it and always made sure my heartbreak was cured with an intense threat to the guy and a large ice cream. Thanks to the extended family that drove me places, sat in the stands for endless games, and cut out newspaper clippings. Here's to the teachers along the way that understood how capable I was, but that I was a touch lazy. Here's to the coaches throughout all the years that knew how talented I was, but never knew quite how to get it all out of me, thanks for never giving up on me.

I could list all the people I need to thank over the years, but it's just not possible. Thank you should come out of my mouth a lot more often than it does, but I'm working on showing more appreciation!