Whether you are a full-fledged holiday aficionado, like me, or a committed scrooge it's pretty hard to not feel at least some of the feels this time of year. It really starts when the leaves begin to change in early October and grocery store shelves are stuffed full of all things pumpkin spice. Honestly, how can you not turn into a total sap when it literally smells cozy everywhere you go? Then, Thanksgiving comes and despite our day-long lapse into prodigal hysteria due to killer Black Friday deals, we all suddenly become very publicly grateful for our families, friends, and favorite food delivery apps. These things are all wonderful and they deserve every bit of thanks you can squeeze into an Instagram caption, but there are some neglected blessings I'd like to remind you to be grateful for.
Your educational opportunities
I have been extremely blessed to have had an amazing, life-long education. It began with my mom who read to me ceaselessly throughout my entire childhood, which led to a love of reading that continues to this day. I was also lucky enough to have amazing teachers all throughout elementary, middle, and high school, as well as some incredible professors in college. Thank you Mrs. O'Donnell for encouraging my reading further, to Ms. Meinz for nurturing my quirky 4th grade soul, to Mrs. Shipe for showing me every corner of the world and expanding my vocabulary 100-fold, to Mr. Herber for giving me the grammar and writing skills that I continue to rely on every single day, to Mr. Wright for emboldening my creativity, to Mr. Taberski for teaching me the importance of constructive criticism, and to every other teacher, professor, leader, and coach who has contributed to my growth as a student and as a person.
Whether you've had the opportunity to attend a prestigious university or if your education has come entirely in the form of Wikipedia articles and Youtube videos, such information is not accessible to everyone and education is a blessing that many of us take for granted. Be thankful for lessons learned, books read, stories heard, and conversations shared, and use these nuggets of wisdom to contribute to the world in a positive way.
Your neighbors
My neighbors freaking rock. Seriously. My family moved about 20 minutes away from my childhood home just over 5 years ago and leaving our neighborhood was probably the hardest part. But once we got settled into our new house, we realized that our new neighbors might be even cooler than the last ones. They've ratted me out for throwing parties and I've backed into their garbage cans (and their parked cars... and their garage doors...), but we all continue to love each other anyways. There is no doorbell-ringing when visiting my neighbors, nor do I need to ask where the cups are or if I should remove my shoes. We share towels, lawn furniture, pets, and recipes, and my life simply would not be the same without them in it. Thank you residents of Sunset Cove for being part of my family in our crazy little town.
If your neighbors aren't as awesome as mine or if you just don't really know them that well, I encourage you to reach out and see if there is a connection to be made. Bake some cookies (actually, ask your mom to, you know hers are better anyways) and share some holiday love with the people who have definitely seen you naked at least once.
Your health
Yes, you will probably say you are thankful for your health when everyone goes around the table on Thanksgiving day, but do you actually realize what you are claiming to be grateful for? Our bodies are these intensely complex collections of moving parts that really should not be working as well as they usually are. Especially when we smush them full of Red Bull vodka slushies and California burritos on a weekly basis. Despite the abuse we inflict upon them, our bodies continue to do almost everything we ask and look pretty awesome doing it. We are all in a different season of life and a different state of health, but I can pretty much guarantee that some part of your body is healthy enough to be thankful for. So, stop complaining about your chunky thighs and start singing praises for your sharp eyes and strong bones.
Your financial situation
This isn't the same thing as rollin' in the dough. Trust me, I know the college budget well - even one dollar drinks start to add up and UberPOOL isn't all that cheap when you use it six times in one night. However, whether you are paying all of your own bills or getting some help from mom and dad, you probably know that you'll have a place to sleep next month. You probably also know that you are going to eat tonight, even if it's because you're bumming off your little's dining plan (again), and you can count on a full gas tank at some point in the next week. Even our tightest month is better than a lot of people's most successful year and that is something to be extremely grateful for, so quit saying you're broke and remember, the best gifts are homemade anyways.
