Thanksgiving is upon us, and with the changes that this year has brought for many of us, I thought it would be apt to share what I am thankful for this year, even if my list is somewhat nontraditional.

I’m thankful for:

• A smelly family Volvo, because it means we have the means for a car and I have a family
• A chaotic family, because it means everyone in it is healthy
• A minor crisis of the washing machine on the second floor leaking into the kitchen ceiling below it, because it means we can afford a washing machine and a two-story house
• Another minor crisis of my brother puking into a bucket at the kitchen table, because it means this type of thing is not the norm and at least it was in a bucket
• A farting dog with bad breath, because it means I have a lifetime companion and his digestive system works just fine
• Conversations with my dad about finances, because it means my parents still pay my bills and my dad trusts me
• A bedroom that has been converted into an office with a bed, because it means I still have a place to sleep and my mom has a quiet place to do her graduate school work
• A metric butt-ton of homework to do over break, because it means my education didn’t stop at high school graduation
• The weight I’ve gained since going to college, because it means I have food to eat
• The relentless cycle of “How is school going?” “What is your major?” or “Have you found a boyfriend yet?” (Answers: “Well, communications, and lol no.”), because it means I am surrounded by people that are at least remotely interested in my new life
• The damp cold of the coast, because it means I am back home at the beach and don’t have to worry about nosebleeds
• Nosebleeds at school, because it means the winter air is dry there
• Political "discussions", because it means we live in a country that is allowed the freedom to disagree and vocalize our opinions
• Too many snapchat streaks, because it means I’ve kept in contact with my friends from high school
• The tracking feature iPhones have, because it means my location is one less thing my mom has to worry about
• Loud mornings, because it means I am surrounded by life and vitality and love

I hope as you read this, you thought about what you were thankful for. I also hope that as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, you remember the history of the holiday. I hope you remember that we were giving thanks for the support of the native tribes that helped the settlers during a time of despair, and you think about the current situation native tribes are facing now, specifically the Sioux tribe at Standing Rock. Look around you, and be thankful for what you didn't realize you were lucky enough to have.