"Thank You"
I believe that, as a culture, there are a lot of times that we don't stop and say "thank you" for the small things that people do for us. I can't think of the last time I've honestly thanked my mom for cooking dinner, or my dad for driving me to guitar lessons when I'm just not in the mood to drive. I also can't remember the last time I told God thank you for being sick or for death. I only give thanks in good times, but that isn't what life is about. During November and December, I always find it easier to think of things I'm thankful for. I also find it easier to give thanks during this time of year. My goal for 2014 is to give thanks at all times, during all circumstances. There's a lot of things I'm thankful for, and I'm going to share some with you today in order to get you, and even myself, thinking more about this thing called "thanks".
1. My family - That's a pretty obvious one, right? My mom is always there to ask me millions of questions about the guy I like, my dad is always there to say, "That performance was great, butttttt..." and provide me with some amazing advice while supporting my goals. My little brother is there to annoy me but also to be my biggest supporter when things are going wrong. My grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins....they're all there, all the time. And within the family category, I'm thankful for those in my life who aren't blood related family but feel like it. For my best friend that has been there since age 5. For the only teacher that really took a personal interest in my life and stood up for me...and for still being there for me every day, 4 years later.
2. My friends - Also, an obvious one. I'm at a point in my life where I have friends, and I'm so thankful for that. I'm blessed to have two amazing best friends who are the exact same person as me. They make me feel okay about not going out to party on the weekends. Even though we all come from extremely different backgrounds and varying denominations of Christianity, we all appreciate each other and encourage each other in our personal growth in faith. I'm also thankful for my 2 "yearbook best friends" who I couldn't live without. They, also, encourage my faith every day and always know exactly what to say. I'm thankful for my best friend who is a year older than me, who takes me shopping and talks to me about stuff that I just can't talk with my mom and other friends about. I'm thankful for my best friends that I haven't even met yet (you all know who you are) and for my best friend that I met through our love of Megan and Liz, Jawbreaking, and Taylor Swift.
3. Music - I often think about what it'd be like to not have music in my life. I can't imagine where I'd be. I'm thankful for the ability to hear music, the ability to create music, and the ability to be influenced by music. I'm incredibly grateful for Taylor Swift, who absolutely changed my life. I'll save that for another post, though. I'm thankful for the best twins to ever be born, Megan and Liz Mace, and all the opportunities they've provided me with. They may not recognize me whenever I come up to them, but when I tell them who I am, they always know me, and that makes me so incredibly happy.
4. Birds, trees, hairdressers, beds... the little things- I'm thankful for all the little things in life. I couldn't imagine waking up in the morning and not hearing the songs of the little birds that live in the trees in my neighbor’s yard. I also couldn't imagine not being able to go get my hair highlighted and trimmed whenever I need it. I sure as heck can't do hair, so without hairdressers, my hair would look incredibly terrible all the time. I'm thankful for a bed to tuck myself into every night. I'm thankful for the freedom to choose my own career path, even though it's extremely scary and overwhelming. I'm thankful for the freedoms we have in the USA, and the freedom to worship my God whenever I want to without being in fear of my life. I'm thankful for cakes, chicken casserole, hamburgers, chicken fingers, steak, baked potatoes, and french fries. I'm thankful for Chick-Fil-A and Zaxbys. I'm thankful for a TV in my home, a computer, and all the other technology I'm able to have. I'm thankful for Nashville, TN, my future home. I'm thankful.
This holiday season, I encourage you to show your gratitude more than you ever have before. I know I will be, and I'd love it if you would join me. Let's change this world.
Happy holidays!
Fearlessly,
Sarah