Ahh, the Holiday season- the most wonderful time of the year (for now)! So many exciting, happy things happen during this joyful season: the ability to give, spending time with loved ones, eating tremendous amounts of food, and watching as the snow falls while we enjoy a number of festive films and musical tracks. Often, we forget how important this season is as far as giving- not only time, help, and love, but also- our thanks. Not everyone in the world- or even the country- is fortunate enough to experience the holidays the same way. It’s important that in the midst of giving, getting, and sharing, -times with our friends and family over expensive meals, drinks and gifts, we remember to give thanks for the many aspects of our lives. Even if we feel like we’re at a loss and have “nothing to be thankful for,” there’s always something to be thankful for. Here are 4 things everyone can be thankful for, no matter where their life is.

1. A place to go at the end of the day.

While it seems a given, having a place to go at the end of each day is truly a blessing. To be able to have a roof over our heads and blankets covering our bodies, curling up to comfort, we should be thankful. It’s such a generic part of everyday life we tend not to think about it. Meanwhile, people in the Dominican Republic- to name one of many places- are without steady shelter, especially after the several high-ranked hurricanes this past season. What we take for granted, others would melt with gratitude to have. To have a warm, safe roof over my head to end up at the end of the day, I am thankful.

2. A support system.

Even if you’re someone who says “I have no one-!” in agony 8 times a day, no, you are not actually alone. You surely have someone to go to--no matter the time of day or situation, negligible or extravagant. Everyone has someone who listens to them rant, vent, or fan-girl daily. Whether it be your mom, dad, sibling, cousin or best friend, there’s always someone there supporting them in everything they do, encouraging them to get better, someone who encourages you to make it through each day, even if step-by-step. For some, such as myself, it’s all the above: mom, dad, best friend, numerous friends, you name it- and for that, I am endlessly thankful.

3. Basic necessities

We really, truly take things that are actually necessary for life granted every single day, almost brushing off the fact that we access these things easily. What do you do every day to be comfortable, happy, and healthy? If you’re like me, and I’m sure for the most part you are, your day follows a similar schedule: brush your teeth, shower, eat 8 times a day, work, relax, sleep. Right? (Of course, various other things occur during our days- these are generic). We are so used to using water regularly (shower, brushing teeth, using the bathroom, washing our hands) that we forget some places,our own country included, are without clean water. We sift through the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator so routinely, we don’t think about the starving children in third-world country who would form tears to see the amount of food we have stored in our own homes. We have so many “self-care” habits (bathing, reading, streaming our favorite shows) we don’t even take into consideration those who don’t have the time, will or ability to relax. Whether they’re working 20 hour days, or caring for their families and neighbors the entire time they’re awake and simply have no time or money left for luxury, not everyone can ‘wind down’ at the end of the day. To be able to shower regularly, eat 8 times a day, and relax by my heater with The Office on Netflix, I am thankful.

4. Our lives

While we often might consider life to be “hard,” “stressful,” or unfavorable, we have it pretty easy compared to other places in the world (and country, really). We face hardships like school work, stressful relationships, friend-fights, family controversy, and the seemingly-major inconveniences in our lives (living “check-to-check,” having to job-hunt, not sleeping well stressing over the essay we have to write for the school we are paying to attend…) and it does make life harder, it does place stress on our existence and make us emotional and worn-down. A lot of times, we feel unhappy and ungrateful, despite the roof over our heads, the circle of friends we are surrounded by, the family we have and the family we make- because we let stress and the idea of simplicity and “the dream” get in our way. When you really look into it, though, life’s pretty great and we are blessed to be living it-To be able to attend a college and get a degree, to search for a career to be able to provide for not only myself but those I do and will love, for the chance at love and family and to have the opportunity at this life, I am thankful.