In light of Thanksgiving being right around the corner, it's time to start being thankful for all of the blessings in your life (that you really should be thankful for all year long, not just on this holiday). Aside from the trivial things like our cars, laptops or favorite pair of shoes, here are a few things that we should say an extra "thank you" for this year.
Food
All right, this one isn't so serious. To make it serious, though, take a minute to think about all of the food that we eat on Thanksgiving. Think about all of that turkey, stuffing, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
OK, on an actual serious note, we take food for granted. People work so hard just to put food on their kids' plates. There are people in this world who can't seem to put food on their plates, no matter how hard they work. Food, especially the extreme amounts that we eat during the Thanksgiving holiday, is a blessing. Make sure you start remembering to thank the Lord for every meal you eat.
Safety
With the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and other parts of the world in mind, understand that it's a blessing to be able to walk down the street without feeling threatened. Some people in this world live in fear of being attacked or killed at any given point in the day. Yes, our culture has its attackers and murderers, but it is also a culture that allows people to carry on with their everyday lives without constantly worrying about their safety.
Moments
We've all heard the phrase, "It's the little things." Has anyone ever known that phrase to not be true? No. It's the little things like moments that make the memories that define us. We always need to be thankful for these little moments that shape who we are and that put smiles on our faces day after day.
Relationships
Think about your parents, your children, your siblings, your mentors, your significant others, your friends, your colleagues, your sorority sisters, your fraternity brothers, your church family, your dance company, your sports team or even your teachers. They've all impacted your life in some way and they've all been there for you when you needed them most.
Educational Opportunities
We all hate school (hate is an understatement), but the opportunity to get any sort of education is something we all take for granted. Whether it's public school from kindergarten through grade 12 or a master's program at a pristine university, the fact that school is even an option for us is worth being thankful for.
Peace of mind
If you're at a good point in your life right now, and you can find some inner peace (especially during the holiday season), you better be thankful for it. Life is very stressful and very high paced. It's easy to get overwhelmed and caught up in everything going on around you. If you can go about your days without crazy, anxious thoughts, kudos to you. You should be thankful for that.
God
He has always been there for you, He is there for you right now and He always will be there for you. He's the reason you have anything that you have, so you should definitely be thankful for Him. God is your best friend, whether you know it or not. This is cliché, and about a month early, but He is the reason for the season. Give thanks!
