Living with Lindsay: Thankful thoughts

When Thanksgiving rolls around every year, everyone suddenly focuses on the things that they are thankful for. “Friends,” “family,” and “a roof over my head,” usually top the charts. 

But throughout the year, I have realized that there is so much more that needs to be appreciated in life. Whether it’s a simple, everyday occurrence, or something rare that happens once a month yet still brings a smile to your face, there are things in every single day that I wish we were more grateful for.

1. Sunrise and sunset – Could there possibly be a more beautiful way to start and end your day? For me, waking up in the morning and facing the busy day ahead of me is often quite a challenge. But when there is a particularly pretty sunrise, I always find the time to step outside and admire its natural beauty. The same goes for a sunset. No matter how fast or slow your day went, if it was good or bad, someone complimented you or wasn’t very nice to you, whether you are looking forward to the next day or not, the sun will always set, and close out the day with a unique canvas of vibrant color. 
2. A good night’s sleep – In my opinion, there is nothing more refreshing than waking up with a fully charged battery. Being able to get out of bed, get ready, and feel like I’m at my best, is a crucial step toward having a good day. After reflecting on this, I realized that I really do need to appreciate this more when it happens.
3. Sense of smell – You might be surprised that I’m mentioning this sense out of the five, and especially that I’m not highlighting taste during the holiday season. But for some reason, smell sticks out to me more during this time of year. Being able to smell the cooking in the kitchen, the Christmas tree, pumpkin spice candles, and even the crisp, cold, smell of snow outside, are little blessings in life that make Thanksgiving and Christmas feel so cozy and magical. 
4. Jokes and laughter – One of the reasons that I’ve gotten through high school is my group of friends. We are always with each other, hanging out, shopping, and most importantly, we tell jokes. There is not one time that I am with my friends and I leave feeling sad or upset. There is something so special about inside jokes and shared laughter that can brighten my day right when I need it most, and for that I am extremely thankful.
5. Today – A lot of people have this expectation for themselves and others that you have to do something fun, important, or life changing every day. But that’s not true. Not one single day is guaranteed for anyone, and so just being present and living TODAY is something worth being incredibly grateful for. 

For this month, I would like to shine the senior spotlight on Carlos Tira. I have had the privilege of knowing Carlos for many years now and he is nowhere short of the perfect friend. He is always smiling, helping others and being kind, and he is constantly going above and beyond when it comes to participating in the something that he loves. Football, band, and art are just a few of the things that Carlos spends his time doing. After just finishing up his varsity football career, Carlos revealed a project that he had been working on. He called it, “Wish You Were Here”. The piece is inspired by the Pink Floyd song, addressing one of the band members who left the group due to mental health struggles and drug use. After senior Lillian McCulloch requested a piece from Carlos to use for her Teen Talk podcast which promotes mental health awareness, Carlos came up with this. Awesome work, Carlos!