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Giving Thanks

A thank-you note for all of life's blessings.

Eileen Robertson

Nov 21, 2016

Wofford College

Sarah Kinder

‘Tis the season to be thankful. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought it was only appropriate that I take the time to list the things that I have to be thankful for. Of course there are many more than just these, but it would be impossible to count all of my blessings. I have so much to give thanks for, and I want to recognize that. I don’t want to take anything for granted, from the smallest of blessings to the biggest. So, without further ado, here are 50 things that I am thankful for this holiday season (in no particular order)…

Friends who get me
A family who brings constant joy into my life
Pretty skies
Good books
Flowers
Fits of loud laughter
Songs that have memories attached to them
A full stomach after a good meal
New friendships
Deep, meaningful conversations
Times when everyone is smiling
Comfy couches
Unexpected warm weather
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream
Friends who lead me to Jesus
Warm hugs
Funny YouTube videos/Vines (RIP)
Sappy things that make me cry
Neat notes
The sunshine
Clean sheets
Sweaters that feel like blankets
Art
Genuine compliments
Reunions
Movies that get me excited
Views that take my breath away
Weekends
Finding something I lost
Life lessons
Making someone laugh
Getting tagged in funny Instagrams
Hot showers
Fuzzy socks
Fresh fruit
Songs that I can sing along to
Moments that leave me speechless
Selfless acts of kindness
Reminiscing
Brick Street’s sweet potato cake
Things that challenge me
Sweet surprises
Ice cold water
The power of prayer
Conversations that don’t need words
Articles and quotes that say the things I needed to hear
Soft puppies
Comfortable silence
Road trips
A God that is way too good to me

I can’t help but smile when I think about the joys and blessings that I’ve been so graciously given. I want to do more than just take a picture of my food and call myself #blessed. I want to really recognize God’s goodness and the goodness of the people He’s put in my life. Per usual, I find that Shauna Niequist speaks some real truth when she says “I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift” (Cold Tangerines). That’s it. That’s how I want to live my life, as one giant thank-you note, jump for joy, and breathless bear hug.

I’m so glad we’re entering a season that encourages us to be thankful. I can’t wait to sit around a table full of good food surrounded by the people that I love the most. Here’s to a happy Thanksgiving, and here’s to carrying that thankfulness with us after waking up from the turkey coma and going back to the real world, ingraining gratefulness into our everyday.

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Giving Thanks

A thank-you note for all of life's blessings.

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I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

1. Watch an R-rated Scary Movie in a Movie Theater

2. Buy a Lottery Ticket

3. Vote in an Election

4. Participate in a Run (or a Walk, Realistically) for Charity

5. Go on a Road Trip

6. Start a Savings Account

7. Get a Credit Card

8. Sign up for Spotify Premium

9. Go to a Club

10. Start a Meditation Routine

11. Go to a Yoga Class

12. Treat Myself to a Dinner for One

13. Volunteer for a Charity

14. Participate in a Research Study

15. Bake Something (That Ends Up Being Edible)

16. Go Skydiving

17. Be Called for Jury Duty

18. Figure Out What I Want to Do With my Life

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1."But what would happen if we all tried to be like Santa and learned to give as only he can give: of ourselves, our talents, our love and our hearts? Maybe we could all learn Santa's beautiful lesson and maybe there would finally be peace on Earth and good will toward men."

"Sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

"If you won't use your heart, who cares if it gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it'll be like my rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won't be any good. You should take a chance. Got nothing to lose."

"Remember, no man is a failure who has friends."

"Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it."

"If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find a that love actually is all around."

"Sometimes things look good on paper, but lose their luster when you see how it affects real folks. I guess a healthy bottom line doesn't mean much if to get it, you have to hurt the ones you depend on."

"'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.'"

"Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to."

"There's room for everyone on the nice list."

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

1. Why are towels considered dirty when you get out of the shower clean?

2. Who closes the bus door once the bus driver gets off?

3. Why is there a "d" in "fridge" but not in "refrigerator"?

4. If you drop soap on the floor is the floor clean or the soap dirty?

5. Is the "S" or the "C" silent in the word "scent"?

6. Does expecting the unexpected make the unexpected the expected?

7. Would Lightning McQueen buy car insurance or life insurance?

8. Who put the alphabet in alphabetical order?

9. What color are mirrors?

10. If 2 mind readers read each other's minds whose mind are they really reading?

11. Is there a synonym for "synonym"?

12. If your shirt isn't tucked into your pants, are your pants tucked into your shirt?

13. Why is it called "quick sand" if you sink slowly in it?

14. If I try to fail, but succeed, which one did I do?

15. If Cinderella's shoe fit perfectly, why did it fall off?

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