I am sure I don’t even have to say it because it’s all you have been thinking about since Halloween ended, but Christmas is just around the corner! But, we should slow down and not forget about another important holiday this season. Thanksgiving is more than just the food and the desserts and the autumn family pictures. It’s a time to really think about the things that you are grateful for, and to focus on the reasons why you are fortunate to have the life that you do. After all, even if you think you have it bad, someone else out there has it worse. Think about that the next time you’re feeling down. In reality you are so lucky to have the things you do and to know the people that you know. In case you’re ever struggling to find the bright side of things, and you need to find some things to be appreciative of, I made a list of some things that I know that I’m thankful for. Maybe you can relate to them too!
First off I of course have to start with my parents. I truly would not be here without them. One of the first memories I have is playing with my older brother in our bedroom that we shared at our old house. We were supposed to be napping but obviously we weren’t. I remember almost every detail of that room. The ocean themed walls and the sea creature stuffed animals in both of our beds. When I look back on this I realize how lucky I was at such a young age to have a roof over my head. I had all the toys I wanted and all of the pink sparkly outfits my little heart desired. That is all because of my parents. They put in a lot of hard work to make sure that my siblings and I could grow up the way we did and make memories to look back on.
Also still sticking with the topic of my family, anyone who knows me knows that I am a very clumsy and accident prone person. There is a family joke that there is a room reserved for me at any doctor’s office just in case. Having broken 11 bones, had 10 sprains, had a chronic nerve disorder, and currently being in the process of a new neurological diagnosis, I’m basically at an appointment every other day. This doesn’t just affect me though. My parents are the ones that drive me there, they sit with me through every video call or scan whether it’s bad news or good, they pick up bottle after bottle of every medicine you could think of, and they have to look at the medical bill at the end of each month (yeah…yikes!). I’m not being dramatic when I say that I would not be here without my family. My little brother is always there to make me laugh, after a procedure or when I’m crying about no longer being able to do gymnastics. My older brother and his girlfriend are always bringing me home a surprise like my favorite candy or a new decoration for my room. Then there’s always my parents, who like I said, have been through everything with me, thick and thin.
Another thing I’m thankful for is the community that I live in. I know that sounds cheesy but Montoursville is such a fun place to be. All of the traditions that we have bring us so close together. Football games with a student section, band, and cheerleaders, pep rallies and the talent show, the fall festival, concerts, plays, and musicals, really anything you can think of is done here. Getting to be involved in a lot of things like community service for Key Club and participating in Friday Night Lights is something that I’ll always be grateful I get to spend my time doing.
Although it might seem like a basic thing to you, food is another thing that you should not take for granted. I love coming home to a new kind of soup on the stove or my favorite kind of pasta with garlic bread. But it’s still actually quite common for some families to not be getting enough to eat. So even something as simple as food on the table can be something that you can reflect on this Thanksgiving season.
Now, as I’ve been journeying through high school, I’ve discovered a lot about myself. What I like to do with my hair, what I want to be when I grow up, the group of friends that I am happiest with, but also my style of clothing. I am fortunate enough to be able to have a wide range of things that I can wear for any occasion and I’m always being gifted more or I have the extra money to go out and buy more. This time of year makes me think though, and I realize that that’s not the case for a lot of people, some even in the same town and school as me.
That’s why we shouldn’t just skip right to Christmas. Sure it’s okay to sneak a few Christmas movies and songs in here the next couple of weeks (Ssshh I’ve already done that myself!), but you should really take this time before, on, and after Thanksgiving to reflect. Not on the things you don’t have or wish you could have, but the things that you do have!
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