As summer comes to a close and I'm getting all my adventures out of the way before "real life" starts, I've been opened up to things that we all take for granted all too often. My top six things I take for granted are all simple but significant.

I take my parents for granted...

Parents are always there. Parents will always love you. Parents are taken for granted.

My parents are phenomenal. They pay for EVERYTHING for me (except college and going out) and I rarely ever thank them enough. My parents never forget to tell me they love me or text me that they love me, and my crappy "love you too" reply hours later isn't enough. My parents are always bragging on me to their friends and making me sound a lot better than I am. My parents give me forgiveness, grace, and unconditional love and I don't deserve it. I all too often take them for granted.

I take time for granted...

Yes, I am only 19, but any age is a good age to realize that time is short. Time doesn't care how old or young you are. Time doesn't stop for you. Time doesn't reverse so you can enjoy the moments. Time is so short. I all too often take every day for granted, thinking "Oh well, I'll have tomorrow" but I don't know that. Time should be cherished and spent meaningfully. Stop and smell the roses--literally. Make a bucket list and actually check some things off. Stop having the "I'll do that tomorrow" mentality and do it today. Don't waste time.

I take where I live for granted...

There is nothing more taken for granted than the beauty that God has made all around me. Y'all, we live in Knoxville, Tennessee, home of the Great Smoky Mountains. We have a landscape that people come from different cities, different counties, and even different states to see. Why are we taken these for granted? When's the last time you went to the mountains, just sat, and took in the views? When's the last time you watched the sunrise or the sunset? When's the last time you went outside, and not just to get in the car? God has painted this beautiful masterpiece for all to enjoy, and we are all taken it for granted every day.

I take money for granted...

No, this is not my car, but this is the model of car that I plan on buying for myself. Did you read that correctly? I am a 19-year-old in college that, whenever I want, could go and buy a brand new car. Now, I would have a loan and a lot of debt, but I could do it. That is incredible. That is mind-blowing. I am barely into my life and I can go and buy a car because I've got a job that pays me money. My own money. No one else gets my money but me, the government and the person my title goes too. Is that not awesome? I can go to any store and buy anything I want because I have money and a job. Wow! Too often we just think of money as a burden. Wouldn't you appreciate it more if your money got taken away from you? I would write love ballads for my money if someone took it away from me. If someone swapped me with someone in the third world, I think they would appreciate it four hundred times more than I do, and that would just be the first day.

I take my friends for granted...

I love my friends. I love our adventures. I love that we last through many seasons in life. I love that they all stick by me no matter what I go through. I love that I'm their "mom" and constantly take care of them. I love that they all come over for pancakes breakfasts. I love that we regularly go to the drive-ins each summer. I love that they stay no matter how long we don't talk. I love that they are always up for anything as long as we are all together. Did I mention I love them? Like a lot. But no matter how much I love them, I sometimes take them for granted.

I take myself for granted...

I am my biggest worst critic. I am the hardest on myself. I am never satisfied with myself nor am I ever 100 percent proud of myself. I can have moments of pride and boast, but right after that I am critiquing myself. I never give myself a break. I am a full-time student. I have three jobs. I volunteer. I have so much on my plate and so much stress that I forget to have "me time" or tell myself that I'm awesome. Yes, school is hard, but I have a 4.0 my first year in college. Working is hard, but I have saved all of my college tuition and am saving now for a new car. Volunteering is hard, but I am doing something for someone who doesn't have to pay me back. I just have to remind myself: Carrie you are awesome. You are sass-tastic. You are an independent woman who don't need no man! Girl pour yourself a cup of hot tea and watch some "Gilmore Girls", you deserve it honey!

No matter whether you are 8 or 80, black or white, male or female, you take some small, simple things for granted. What can you be thankful for today? What can you remind yourself that you have to be happy to have? Go be thankful for it. Go take a break. Go enjoy the outdoors. Go hug your mom or dad. Go hug your friend. Go treat yo' self. BE GRATEFUL!