With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s time to take a moment to show appreciation for the things that we’re thankful for. The following are 10, of the many, things I’m thankful for this year.
Friends
I believe in having a few true friends, rather than many fake friends. It’s taken some time, but I’ve definitely found some real friends that I can talk to about anything, including my boyfriend. My friends and boyfriend help me relieve stress by encouraging me to laugh. They also listen, support and accept me for who I am. I know I can trust them to be there for me when I need them the most, unlike fake friends.
Family
My family is supportive of me financially, verbally, and physically. Unfortunately, I’ve gone through medical issues that’ve forced me to rely heavily on my family, especially my mom. Each time that I have, she’s adjusted her schedule so that she could be there to take care of me while my dad worked all day. Last time that I underwent a minor surgery, my younger sister came home with a balloon, flowers, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream for me, and my older sister sent me a get well letter from Massachusetts. Even though we do have our minor fights, we’re here for each other.
My dog, Chiquita
Chiquita is my favorite; she’s cuddly, warm, adorable, and soft. She’s the ideal cuddle buddy when I’m cold, sad, or tired, and she makes me laugh. We always say it’s a good thing she’s cute, because she isn’t smart. One day I came home from school and stood on the porch, while she was inside my house on the other side of the screened door. She knew it was me, so she was jumping at the door to see me. When I rang the doorbell, she started to bark at the potential intruder, even though she knew I was the one standing at the door. A few moments after I rang the doorbell, she’d stop barking. This happened several times, and she still didn’t realize that I was the one ringing the bell. We even used her paw to press the doorbell once, and she started barking at herself. Regardless of her lack of intelligence, I still love her.
The Sun
I really don’t like winter because of its lack of warmth and sun. I depend on the sun to create warmth and sunshine. In the winter, I miss the sun so much that I have a lamp that imitates sunshine for me (a worthwhile investment, by the way). In my opinion, sunlight results in the bright and cheerful days that I can’t live without. On a cool day, I love hopping into my warm car that’s been heated by the sun. Moral of this paragraph- I’m already missing the sun, making me even more grateful for it.
Health
When we’re healthy, we rarely take a moment to appreciate our health. I’ve had my fair share of surgeries and sickness, so I definitely appreciate when I’m healthy, even if I don’t always a moment to be thankful for it. If you haven’t yet, take a moment to appreciate your health- even if you have a cold, be thankful you don’t have a fever. Life could always be worse, so there’s always something to be grateful for!
Friendly, Understanding People
You can’t deny that cheerful, helpful people improve your mood. I appreciate when people smile, hold doors, and say hello. After an especially stressful week, I was behind on two of my online assignments, and my understanding teacher, Mary Sims, kindly extended the deadline for me. Before that week, I had been able to turn in all of the assignments days in advance, which may have been part of the reason she was willing to give me a break. Friendly, welcoming and happy people make the world a better place.
My Drive and Goals
Because I want to be an Entrepreneur, I have a drive to acquire as much knowledge and experience as possible so that I can use it when I open a business. To accomplish this, I make the most of my opportunities. In my mind, this is the time for me to ask questions before I’m in the real world by myself, opening a business. I try my best in and out of the classroom to achieve my goals, which has opened opportunities for me that wouldn’t have been an option otherwise.
Opportunities
By joining a club on campus and being a reliable member, the advisor, Kelly Peiffer, offered me an internship in the Marketing Communications department- where, as you know, I am happily interning. This internship is an excellent opportunity for me that I know will help me in the future. By staying in contact with my teachers, I was able to find an internship with a start-up business (exactly what I wanted for the summer); without those connections, finding a business to intern with, that doesn’t exist yet, could have been impossible. (Thanks to everyone who told their friends and colleagues about my search!)
Sleep
I consider myself lucky that I’m usually able to get enough sleep every night, because who doesn’t love sleep? Sleep helps me stay healthy, focused, energized, and optimistic. Besides its obvious benefits, sleep is the epitome of comfortable, especially on a cold night, cuddled under a comforter. Naps are equally amazing, particularly when you’re exhausted, and your bed feels twice as comfortable as it normally does. (Learn more about getting enough sleep in my Organization and Time Management blog post.)
Food
I truly appreciate food, and I’m grateful that I’ve never had to go hungry at a meal, unlike so many others. (While we’re on the topic, make sure you donate non-perishable food to the Preston and Steve Campout for Hunger drive on campus to benefit Philabundance- place your food items in the boxes around campus.) Some of my favorite food is my family’s Thanksgiving meal- turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pies, etc., and I can’t wait until Thursday to stuff myself!
What are you thankful for? Comment below, and Happy Thanksgiving!