Stop for a moment and give thanks

With Thanksgiving just a few days away, I thought I’d be one of those mainstream Americans and share what I’m thankful for.

These last few months and quite frankly this last year in general have brought some of the hardest and most pivotal times in my life. I’ve gotten so caught up in being busy and not having time for myself. I think it’s time I sit down and think about all there is to be thankful for.

Last week, I explained how I’ve hit this wall, and I’m feeling stuck. Maybe I should be grateful for that, even if it’s just a little bit. Spending so much time dwelling on everything that’s so hard or stressful makes me want to stop thinking so negatively and appreciate the good things in life.

Without further ado, I’d like to share my list of things I’m thankful for this year. Now, bear with me, some of these items might be cheesy but not any less valuable.

1. My family. Everyone says they’re thankful for their family, and they should be. But I’ve been feeling especially grateful for these nerds lately. I’m not an easy person to put up with by any means, and they never fail to be right there when I need them, even though most of the time I’m hundreds of miles away. I’m truly blessed to have two incredible parents and two beautifully weird and silly sisters. Thank you, Mom and Dad, and Gabbie and Maggie. You are the lights of my life.

1. My health. Even though I eat way too much junk food and probably drink too much coffee, I’ve been lucky to have stayed healthy this year. Despite the occasional cold or stomach bug, I’ve remained in good health. I’m so fortunate to be able to wake up each morning, walk with both my feet, and breathe fresh air every day. It’s the simple things we forget to be thankful for that are some of the most important.

2. My education. Of course I complain about school like every other college student, but I truly am grateful to have the privilege to go to the University of South Dakota. There are some kids who don’t have that opportunity. I’m thankful to be able to go to an out-of-state university, challenge myself, and discover my true potential. I think I forget to stop sometimes and realize how cool it is to be here and have the insanely busy life I do.

3. My friends: new and old. This year, I’ve branched out and made a lot of new friends. I’m proud of myself, because making friends is extremely difficult in general, but in a college where you don’t know anyone, it’s even harder. It’s a struggle for me to step out of my comfort zone and start talking to people, but I’ve gotten so much better at it. Sometimes you have to just forget what people think and jump right in. I’m so happy I did just that, because I’ve made several amazing friends that I'm incredibly grateful for. I can’t forget about my old friends, though. Although my friends from high school have significantly diminished since I moved to Vermillion, I still have a couple that have stayed by my side through everything. Thank you. You mean the world to me.

1. My struggles. You might be scratching your head at this one, but I honestly am thankful for my struggles, as hard and impossible as they can be. Because in these moments of weakness, I’ve found my strength. I’ve faced countless challenges in just the last few months, both internally and externally. I’ve struggled with my relationship with myself, and with others. It’s hard to admit, but there have been several times I was about to give up, but I forced myself to keep going. There’s something inside me that kept pushing me to go on, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. I’ve surprised myself with how much stronger I’ve become since I came to college, and since I’ve faced my struggles head on. I guess I have myself to thank for that.

Of course it’s hard to pin down each and every thing I’m thankful for, because that list would go on for pages and pages. But these five things are some of the things I’m absolutely the most grateful for, and the ones that stand out to me the most.

This Thanksgiving, when you’re surrounded by your loved ones and an array of delicious home cooked food, I encourage you to take a moment to think of five things you’re thankful for. Write them down, and place them somewhere where you’ll always be able to remind yourself of them.