Oh, Thanksgiving. A time of constant catch-up with the family.

"Look at how much you've grown!" -- Yes, that typically comes with puberty

"So, do you have a special someone in your life?" -- That would be this pie I'm eating

"How's college going? What are your future plans?" -- Marrying this pie is as far as I've gotten

Don't get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving just as much as the next person. Any time that celebrates family and thankfulness gets my approval (even with the dreaded small talk). But I want to address a message to those who perhaps feel cheated by this holiday, those of us whose families aren't put together. To those who feel a sense of emptiness in a holiday that promotes feeling full (metaphorically and quite literally).

The pressure to have a perfect family is a common expectation, but it is especially accentuated on this holiday. Those of us who don't reach it feel left out. Dear reader, I am sorry if I have painted your picture. But please know that I am standing in the canvas with you.

Although I lucked out with parents and brothers that I adore, my family relations get messier the further down the line they go. Growing up has broken my heart in a sense....the older I became, the more I saw who my family members really were. And the results weren't pretty.

Despite my downcast message, the real purpose of this article is to inspire thankfulness elsewhere. It's easy to get angry at something that highlights the insecurity of family shortcomings. I know I can quickly put myself in a shame spiral when I start playing the comparison game. That being said, here are some things we often take for granted:

--Laughing at inside jokes

--Freshly made coffee in the morning

--Discovering a song that stirs you

--Free shipping

--Someone trusting you

--Crying over silly, cute things (almost always animals)

--Hugs. Lots of hugs

--Painting just for the heck of it

--Staying up 'til 3 a.m. chatting with someone

--Cell phone GPS's

--Finding old photographs that spark memories

--Food

--Feeling your heart race when something scares you

--Finally letting someone know how you feel

Perhaps this list is cheesy and obvious, but how often we take these small things for granted is astounding. A huge theme behind my blog is practicing mindset awareness. So much of life is how we perceive it...it's really about practicing mind over matter. I understand that just a switch of thought doesn't magically make loving families or money fall from the sky. But it does form gratitude. It does spark happiness. It allows the good to be seen on the most average of days, or the ones that receive special celebration. And when it comes down to it, no family meets the mark. Families are imperfect because they are made up of a bunch of broken people. My hope is that you can still find the humor, the fun, and the love in whatever family you may or may not have. The picture can look pretty beautiful when we adopt a new lens to view it through.

As always, I write to make others feel less alone in the world. To create a shared space of understanding and acceptance. There is no "right" family... family can look like pets, friends, co-workers. Like roommates, teachers, or just strangers that share a smile. This earth really is just one giant family, and this statement would be more convincing if we actually started showing it. Getting real with each other is the first step, and I'm here to tell you that I am imperfect. I don't think I'd be wrong in saying that you are too. So instead of using these flaws to undermine each other, let's start healing them. Let's love one another like a brother or sister. Let's be thankful for all that we do have, instead of what we don't--like the holiday was truly intended for.

Happy belated Thanksgiving everyone.