What I'm Thankful for This Year

 So it's that time of year again: Thanksgiving. A time to be thankful for all the good (even bad) in your life, and reflect on the past year in utter thankfulness for what's been given to you. 
    As I sit here writing this, Starbucks cup in hand on this cold morning with my family gathered around me, laughing and talking, I realize I myself have so much to be thankful for. I have a family who, despite our problems and our different personalities, can still be able to get together certain times of the year and just be together and enjoy each other's company. I know so many people who can't even say that, with divorced families, broken homes, and so forth. As we were talking about what we were going to do on Thanksgiving, one of my good friends just told me she's usually alone on Thanksgiving (she's barely in high school like me), and that she just watches TV and sleeps. This was something that affected me in ways I couldn't imagine because all I had known on Thanksgiving was being with my family and enjoying a good meal. I didn't even realize some people didn't see it like that as well.
    Another thing I'm thankful for is the people that are in my life that help me be the best me. I'm talking about my closest friends, the ones I can be myself around. At this age, it's hard to find that, and believe me, I can probably only count them on one hand- but these thanks goes to the people who I can truly be myself with and who really know the real me and what I value and believe. No shout outs are needed because they know who they truly are. On this topic though, as weird as it may sound....I'm really thankful for the "internet" friends I've created this past year. Through Dream On Youth, and my obsession with the fabulous independent clothing line Jawbreaking, I've honestly met some incredible people who truly inspire me in all they do. I know it may just seem like some "silly" little game because I may have never truly met them in person...but I do tell them a lot (especially Kenna oops) and I feel like they really get me. I know it sounds crazy but they've really helped me get through a lot this past year, in this rut I was stuck in, more than they could ever know.
    I'm also extremely thankful for my faith, though it has been shaky this entire year, I know it's still cemented in me and at the end of the day my Lord is everything to me and ultimately decides my life and how it will go. 
    Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank Dream On Youth and Cydney herself for choosing me to be an intern of this amazing project. I was a generally negative person before I started interacting with Dream On Youth and would always try to fight the positive side of things. Now, I have seen an improvement in myself as a person with the help of the interns and the mission we are spreading out to others.  I have such big dreams to share with the world and want to do so positively and greatly. I realize we are all worth something and sometimes our ideas are so much bigger than ourselves and we just have to let it out, be our true selves, and live with a purpose. 
    I say, let's not make just Thanksgiving the only time of year we give thanks, but every single other day as well, because we ALL have something to be thankful for. If you are currently at a bad place in your life and feel like you have nothing to be thankful for, I want you to press your hand to your heart and just remain still and listen. You're breathing, aren't you? Some people don't even have that luxury! Remember everything is a gift, and something to be treasured. Whether it's the fact that you're able to enjoy another beautiful day healthy and alive, or maybe something as simple as thank for you that A on that math test, just remember to be thankful in all you do.
    I have a lot to be thankful for this year because I choose to be positive and move on from whatever negative things have happened. You can do the same!
    So eats lots of food, enjoy your company, and remember most of all: Be Thankful.
    (Oh and make sure to watch all the Friends Thanksgiving episodes because THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING TONIGHT! It's the only tradition.) 

Have an amazing day, you lovely people!
xoxo,
Erica