With Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks and the winter holiday season around the corner, life starts to get busy. If you are a food allergy kid, the holidays are the hardest time especially if you have relatives who just don't get your allergies or if you have to travel far. Sometimes, in and the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we forget to think about what the holidays are really about--family and giving thanks. So, before the holiday bustle begins, I want to take a moment to write about what I am thankful for, and I urge you to do the same. I decided to find 18 things I am thankful for since I am 18 (they are in no particular order).
I hope everyone has a safe Thanksgiving and feel free comment on what you are thankful for! We would love to know!
- My Parents- They have been my rock for everything. No matter what the problem, I know I can call them or text them and they will know how to solve it. When I need someone to vent to, someone to celebrate a small accomplishment with, someone to ask advice from, or someone to send me a picture of my mom and dad are always there. Without my parents, there is no way I would be in college or thriving. This year my parents were rock stars. They put up with so much, they helped put me on my path to following my dreams and they kept me safe.
- My Sister- If my parents are my rock, my sister is my pebble. While she may not have had to do so much for me this year, she was always there. I know if I need anything, she will be there. She is a pebble in the sense I can put her in my pocket and whenever I am lonely or missing home, I know she is with me. I am so thankful that she is loving school and doing so well in ice skating! I am also thankful that she has put up with me too!
- My Grandparents- I love my grandparents so much. They are like my cheerleaders. If I am sad or need some advice I know I can always turn to them. I am thankful to that they are doing so well. I am thankful that my Pop-pop is still able to play tennis and work as a dentist. I am thankful that my Nana is finally back to normal walking after almost a year since her broken ankle accident. I am thankful that my other Nana is able to travel and visit us. I am thankful that I met a friend who lives near my Papa Fred so I will have an excuse to go visit him more often. And I am thankful that my Leon is doing well and giving my Nana some good gin competition.
- My Friends- I am wiling to bet I have the absolute most amazing friends! This past year was a pretty big year- from high school graduation to college orientation and beyond they have been with me through it all. I am thankful to have friends who genuinely care about me and my safety. I am thankful that my friends from high school love college and that I will be reunited with may of them in 7 days 13 hours and 1 minutes (but who is counting?). I am thankful to the amazing new friends who I have made in college who make every day even brighter!
- My Family- I am also willing to bet I have the most amazing family. No matter what, everyone is supportive of each other. Although my family lives everywhere and we won't all get to see each other for Thanksgiving, I know we will still all be connected. I am thankful though that I got to see almost all of them in May and it was so nice to see everyone doing so well. I am thankful I get to play the big cousin role of giving PSAT tips, having night time talks, aiding in final review and just being there as someone to talk too.
- My Dog- It may seem silly but I love my dog to death. My little Gracie always puts the biggest smile on my face and is a really good tear wiper when I need it. Every time my mom or dad send me a picture of her, no matter what my mood, the corners of my lips always fly up. And when I am home, I am thankful that I get to have a dog who loves me enough to let me cuddle with her, carry her like a baby, and spoil her to death.
- My Health- 2014 has been a pretty decent year health wise. I am thankful for the fact that with my move to college, my mom found me some doctors who really seem to be on the cutting edge of treatment! As an EMT I also see many patients who have it much worse than I do and it puts into perspective how lucky I have it.
- My Family's, My Friends' and My Dog's Health- As I said above, as an EMT I see a lot of very sick people. I have seen friends loose their friends, children loose their parents and parents loose their children. I am thankful though that I wasn't on the receiving end and I hope that the people who were on the receiving end of the diagnosis or a loss this year were able to find the closure they needed.
- The ability to laugh and smile- Just Yesterday, I was told by a friend that I am one of the happiest people she knows. With the loss of Robin Williams to depression, I can't help but think how lucky I am to be able to smile and laugh and be happy especially when there are some people who can't.
- Clothes on my back and a place to live-- Now that I live in the city, I see homelessness more than ever. Homelessness was something I knew about before I went to college but I never really saw it. When I am walking down the street with a bag or groceries or a shopping bag or a package from the student mail, I can't help but feel thankful. As it gets colder, I also can't help but feel lucky that I have a warm coat to wear and a comfy bed to snuggle up in at the end of the day.
- Knowledge- As silly as it sounds, I am thankful for knowledge. I am thankful to be in school and have a chance to go to college and expand my knowledge and hopefully one day become a pediatric emergency physician.
- My mentors- I have had a lot of mentors! They have all given up their time to help make me a better person and for that I am very thankful!
- A Voice- I am super thankful to be able to have a voice and be heard. I turned 18 in September and voted for the first time a few weeks ago. To be able to have a say (no matter how small) in the last election seemed so cool--especially when all the people I voted for won! I have also been lucky to get to serve as the co-chair of the FARE College Food Allergy Committee and to speak at two different food allergy summits this year so I could have my voice heard there too!
- My Auvi-Qs- I am very lucky to have auvi-qs which can save my life if I need it. Unfortunately, there was a time when people didn't have epinephrine in their pocket and I am thankful to have the luxury of having epinephrine in my pocket for if I need it.
- My iPhone- I absolutely rely on my phone for everything- from staying in touch with family and friends to bus routes to calling cabs. I'm definitely thankful I have a phone and I am not sure what I would do without it!
- My Computer- Have you heard the expression absence makes the heart grow fonder? Well try not using your computer for a few days; it is super tough. Without my computer I wouldn't be able to stay in touch with my friends, do my homework or make this website! I am definitely thankful for it.
- Electricity- I am super thankful for electricity especially after we lost if for 5 days last winter. It is definitely nice to have heat, air, lights, wifi and working appliances.
- Silence- After going from a Quaker Meeting For Worship once a week in high school to never in college, I have learned to appreciate the structure silence that I once had. I am thankful that I have the tools though to be able to sit down in quiet, silence my thoughts and take a break from my day when I need it.
- And one for good luck... Independence- I have worked super hard to be independent and prove to my family and myself that I can rely on myself. I am thankful that I am finally at the point where I feel confident in what I do and I feel like I am driving my own life (of course with the much needed help of a lot of backseat drivers)!
I hope everyone has a safe Thanksgiving and feel free comment on what you are thankful for! We would love to know!