Thanksgiving is a holiday dedicated to towards expressing how grateful we are for one another. As cliché as it might sound, there should be more than just a day dedicated to such an act since there is so much in our lives to appreciate.

I grew up in household with two loving parents, while living in a safe neighborhood, and am currently receiving a college education from a great university-- there’s a whole lot to be grateful for right there. While I could go on and express how grateful I am that life has dealt me these cards, there’s a whole lot that I’m also forgetting to be grateful for. Simple things -- things that we don’t necessarily consider a privilege to have.

1. Living in the Place That We Do

I recently read an article “7 Harsh Realities of Life Millennials Need To Understand” (http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-03-10/7-harsh-r...) and while I don’t wholeheartedly agree with every word of it, there was one point that struck me and has been lingering in my mind ever since. Number four in the article states that “If You Live In America, You Are Already In The 1%”. As I read this, every thought of self-pity on every bad day that I’ve ever had flashed through my mind. The article mentions places such as Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Iran, and North Korea, and asks for the reader to compare their lifestyles to those living in such countries. After researching what life was like for millennials in these other countries, I was ashamed at myself.

At that moment, I realized that my definition of a bad day-- waking up twenty minutes before class starts, spilling coffee on my pants on the way out the door, and losing participating points because I forgot to bring my iClicker to class-- wasn’t so bad. I looked around at my life and realized that, that one bad day was one out of thousands of really good days that I’ve had. And in comparison, the “struggles” that I experience during my definition of a bad day were nothing compared to the struggles of millennials in Saudi Arabia. As millennials in America, though our struggles may seem like a trek up the mountains at times, we must remember that someone, somewhere else in the world is being dealt a much worse hand of cards.

2. Our Physical Capacities and Capabilities

There are also simpler things to be grateful for. I tell myself this every day when I contemplate taking the elevator over three flights of stairs, to get home to my apartment. The ability to walk is something that we take for granted quite often. The majority of us are born with a working set of limbs, which we utilize but fail to appreciate and take care of. This may come in handy during the holidays, but whenever I can’t seem to find the motivation to go to the gym I think about those who aren’t physically able to do so.

So next time you need that extra incentive to workout, think about those who were never able to. We often don’t see ourselves having the option to engage in physical activity as anything special because it’s something that we were born with. Many times, we don’t realize what we take for granted until we no longer have it-- don’t let this be the case for your physical capability. Embrace every chance to appreciate the ability to walk, run, and jump.

3. Those Who Play Smaller Roles in Our Life

The people in our lives is also we take for granted. Although our family and friends are something to greatly appreciate, there are also another group of people who we forget to show appreciation to. Those who we always rely on to do their part in our lives but we don’t’ necessarily think of as significant in our lives. It could be the same pleasantly kind woman who checks out your groceries at the local store every time you do your grocery shopping. Or it could be the strangers, who you’ve never talked to, who hold the door open for you on your way to class. It could even be the mailman who always gives a friendly wave “hello” to you when you pass him while driving home through your neighborhood every day.

Everyone has someone like this in his or her life. Now, think about your life and routine without these people. It’s just not the same, right? Though you may have not realized it before, these people play quite a significant yet quiet role in your life. Let them know how significant of a role they have played in your life. Whether it’s a simple thank you card, a compliment, or a holiday gift-- they’ll be touched by your kindness. Odds are that they too have no idea how much they have contributed to the regularity of your life.

This holiday, remember that it’s the simple things that matter. Life has its ups and downs but selflessness will bring good karma back to you, exercise your capabilities just because you can, and appreciate every single person in your life because they all matter. And of course, treasure every day because there is so much in the world to be grateful for. Happy Holidays, spread the love.