I personally think that a lot of people use their time off on Thanksgiving to prepare for the holidays by watching Christmas movies and decorating the tree, and of course eating…a lot. However, I think that the most important thing to do is to reflect on what you are truly thankful for. As I was saying grace during my Thanksgiving meal, surrounded by everyone I consider closest to my heart, I was beginning to tear up. I was able to take this time to reflect on everything I am thankful for. So, in this moment, I discovered them, and here they are:

I am thankful for my family.

There is nothing in this life more important than your family in my eyes. My parents are the most important people in my life. Sometimes, I think about the future and what my life will be like without them when I am all grown up, and there is nothing more terrifying and paralyzing to me. But I am thankful that that day is not today.

I am thankful for my health.

I have had stomach problems for a long time, for most of my life in fact, but as of today, I have learned more about the problem than I previously knew the day before. Each day, I learn more and fight it more. I am thankful that I have another day to keep putting the puzzle pieces together and finding a final fix that will finally make my stomach problems go away for good. But for now, I was able to eat a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, without feeling sick.

I am thankful for my friends.

For me, my friends are my family. I have the most special group of girls back home who have been friends with me throughout all of high school. I have lived with them and grown with them into who I am, and they have been such strong positive influences on my life. I am beyond thankful to have met these girls and do not know what I would do without them in my life. Just like my family, they are my everything.

I am thankful for my school.

I do not know who or where I would be today without Providence College. I found some of the most important people to me because of PC. But besides this, it helped me become who I am today. I am more determined than ever to achieve my goals, to help people, and I finally discovered who I want to be in life because of this community. Beyond this, my faith has grown stronger than ever.

I am thankful for my faith.

I have always been a person of faith, a believer in God. I have to say though, as I grow older and experience more things, I ask myself, how can a person not believe in God? Everyone has his or her own religion and beliefs, but I am thankful that I always have my faith to come back to when I feel as though everything else is letting me down. Without my faith, I would be lost. So I am thankful that for right now, I am found.