I am thankful for so much in my life but I wanted to highlight some aspects that are on the top of my thankful list every day.

I am most thankful for all of my friends, near and far. I want to mention first on this list because they are the reason I wake up every morning. Many of my friends are more like family then just a friend. I am proud of their accomplishments, their passions and the ability to touch the people around them. Thank you for being my friend and apart of my family.

I would next like to thank many of the organizations I am apart of. You empower me, you push me, challenge me and make me the best person I can be. I have accomplished so much by the organizations I take part in and I have learned so much about the world I live in. Thank you organizations who help identify myself.

Thank you to my team for being a driving life force for how I live. I enjoy running and the ability it gives me to live this life as an active individual. Without my team this feeling would fade and disappear at some point because I truly know that my teammates and coaches encourage me to not settle and keep pushing even when the world isn't on my side. Thank you team for you guys are a true family that lights up the night.

In a littler different idea, thank you to diversity. Diversity has been a growing idea of how I see the world, myself and others. The concept encourages me to evaluate myself and my environment, to better understand privilege, ability, awareness, and differences. Thank you to diversity for all of my differences and similarities.

Thank you to every opportunity that has come my way or that I have missed. I love the path I take through life and I know every aspect is for a reason. I am given so many opportunities and I know they have all shaped my life from either taking them or letting them pass by. Thank you to opportunity and please keep it coming.

In my last thank you I would like to thank two ideas together, the unknown and failure. Maybe to under appreciated ideas due to the feelings usually attached to them but I know for myself that I am who I am today because of these two ideas. The unknown is such an interesting place that drives my curiosity and challenges me to take that leap to test myself in things I do not know. From this can come failure. Usually a very neglected response when you are in the unknown but honestly what you learn is worth so much. I have learned about perspective, that sometimes failure is only in the one way you look at the instance. I have learned about strength, as failure has taught me that I am not going to let it failure control me, I can control myself because I am strong. Thank you to the unknown and to failure as I develop ever day in life from you.

Happy holiday to everyone and show the world how much you are thankful for this holiday season!