When people are asked what their favorite holiday is, they’ll most likely say either their birthday or Christmas. My favorite holiday falls on November 25th, and it’s known as Thanksgiving. I have so many reasons to be thankful for the life I have. Every year, we would go around the dinner table and list what we were thankful for. I love Thanksgiving because it’s a holiday for good conversation with good people. It’s a day to bring the whole family together, despite your differences. It’s a day to reflect on the many opportunities and good fortune that has come to us throughout the year. There are so many reasons I’m thankful for the life I was given, and I’d like to share those reasons with all of you.

1. I’m thankful for my crazy family. Anyone who’s met my family knows just what I mean. My family is the kind of family to roast you at the dinner table out of pure love and enjoyment, but mostly enjoyment. Nothing compares to when both sides of the family come together; it’s always a good time. I’m glad I have a support team that’ll encourage me to do better each and every day. Our family is small, but we make the most of every holiday. I’m truly thankful for the people who I can call family.
2. I’m thankful that everyone in our family knows how to cook. I know that cooking doesn’t come natural to everyone, but I’m glad my family can cook some fantastic meals. Having Italians in our family has given me a lot of cooking tips and ideas, which I’ll use one day when I’m cooking for my family. On Thanksgiving, we have an eight-course meal to say the least. By the time we get to the turkey, I already feel stuffed like one. Thank you for teaching me so many recipes and cooking skills. I appreciate all of you, and your cooking.
3. I’m thankful for the fact I’m attending college. I don’t come from money, and the fact I have the opportunity to attend college means the world to me. I know I complain about the work constantly, but one day I’ll realize it’ll all be worth it. I thought college wasn’t an option for me because of my financial limitations, so being about sit in a class with everyone else and work towards my goal is the best feeling. I wouldn’t have had this opportunity if I didn’t have guidance and perseverance.
4. I’m thankful for the people that keep me going. I have the best support in the world between my friends and family. Trust me, those motivational comments, texts, and calls keep me going. If it wasn’t for the constant love and motivation you guys give me, I would’ve given up a long time ago. Just as I’m starting to feel drained from all of my responsibilities, I get a text from someone that tells me how proud they are of me. Messages like that are what make all this struggling worth it. I know I can go to you guys (and you know who you are) for anything.
5. I’m thankful to be alive. It’s true that anything can happen at any given moment. I hear about people dying every day, and I’m thankful I’m here to live another day. Every day is an opportunity to be the best person I can be. It’s a chance to make someone’s day, accomplish another goal, or enjoy the world around me. I think there’s a reason I’m still here, and I feel like I was meant to do something great with the life I was given. I’m thankful for the chance to do something great with this life, and I won’t waste it.

There is so much to be thankful for in this world, but we don’t really see those things 'til Thanksgiving comes around. Every year, I reflect on the good things life has brought me. It keeps me grounded, and reminds me where I came from. I’m thankful for Thanksgiving, because it allows me to spend time with my family, enjoy great food, and keeps me feeling thankful for all that I have today.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.