a few months ago, i started journaling regularly. in addition to my daily to-dos, i’d write three things i was grateful for every morning and night. in doing this exercise i realized how wonderful and important it is to express gratitude and thanks. i know people always say it’s good to do it, but it’s completely different when put into practice. and since it’s (american) thanksgiving, i wanted to take some extra time to spread some extra love to these things (among many many other things) i’m thankful for:
01. my family
ah! classic first thing on the list! the cheesiest of them all!! but i can’t not express gratitude to my family. i didn’t realize until more recently but i’m closer to my family than most and that’s truly a privilege. yes, i complain about my parents like any angsty teen™ but i ultimately love them. (but i would never tell them because who has feelings nowadays!) i know i can count on their support no matter what crazy thing i’m up to. even as they’re rolling their eyes and telling me i’m making a grave mistake, they’ll support me to the end. and as insufferable as my sister can be, i know i can tell her anything and often tell her too many random things.
02. the internet community & all the friends
i’ve come to realize and accept that i’m ultimately an extrovert because i’m such a people person. the people around me are what continue to encourage and inspire me. i truly believe who you surround yourself with is what shapes who you are. and i’ve been so lucky to have a community this friends. (i know, i know, i say this A LOT.)
03. art
sometime i go about my day and then am struck with how much i love art and am filled with a sense of GAH. like how cool is this thing that someone conjured up that makes me feel so many feelings and expresses ideas i didn’t know how to express??? and how cool that art is literally everywhere from the books we read to the outfits we wear to the colors we see to the music we listen to. it’s everywhere! and beautiful!! and sometimes not even aesthetically beautiful but so wonderfully flawed and powerful that i can’t help but see its beauty! how lucky are we to live in a world with art?!! some days i appreciate music or design or movies or books a little more than others, but today i want to say thanks to ALL the art forms out there. even the ones people wouldn’t typically perceive as art, like baking or comedy or even i dunno basketball. art is everywhere!!!
04. the here and now
i try not to think of the past or the “could’ve”s or “should’ve”s – ever. because i must believe that everything happens for a reason and there is a lesson to be learned in every so-called failure. so even thought life may not be the dream your five-year-old self conjured, it’s led you to this moment which is PRETTY COOL. there’s never going to be another moment like the present. isn’t that wild?!! all the people you met and experiences you had has led you to RIGHT NOW. and there’s so much you could do with it. in which i go real cheesy and say, there’s really nothing like the present.
05. life itself
the grand finale!! sometimes i sit at the end of a long day and contemplate the three things i want to give a special shout out to. the day could be rough and motivation low, but then i settle on life itself. because ultimately, the opportunity of another day and another chance is thanks to the fact that you exist. and some days i’m so positive with good energy that i can only sum it up with gratitude for everything life has to offer. THE WORLD IS SO COOL. you are so cool!! we are so lucky to be able to thrive in this moment with these people and all of the above.
Aww this is a lovely post, Xan! I just had a discussion with my friend earlier, about how we often spent too much time thinking about the past or anxious about the future that we don’t appreciate the present. This year hasn’t been the easiest, but I’m still thankful for a lot of things. Thankful that I still get a chance to be here, to study and meet my friends. To read and play with my dog. To have less classes so I can spend more time with my family and friends. And most importantly, I got both internship and thesis placement. It’s been a great year.
Happy thanksgiving! <3