I honestly feel like I spend so much time worrying about the bad things that are to come, that I forget all of the wonderful things I have around me. After all, it seems to be easy to focus on what’s going wrong rather than everything that is going right. I really want to stop for a minute and thank all of the wonderful people around me for all of the support, love and honestly just the time they’ve spent with me for the last lifetime.

Thank you to my parents. Coming from a person who was always out on Saturday nights, actually pretty much every night, with their friends, I really take for granted all that they do for me. My dad is always there to check on me while I sob about a sad movie on the couch. My mom usually picks up after about the fifteen time to talk to me about meaningless things I’ve done during my day or tiny insecurities that are constantly worrying me. Both of my parents were there when I lost my footing and really began struggling in college. I consistently stressed myself out when I thought about having to tell them that I failed calc, but to my surprise, they were very understanding. It was just a class. There were more important things. I’m thankful for their patience as I’m constantly trying new things or slipping off with new friends. They’re always there; ready to hear about it, with open minds. They have done so much for me and my siblings and I don’t ever think I could ever truly repay them. I know I can be selfish and a brat but I’m so blessed to have parents who are constantly rooting for me, even when they know I’m wrong. Thank you, I love you guys.

Thank you to my brothers. Some people are blessed to have one sibling, while I hit the jackpot and got three. Of course there was constant fighting when we were growing up but the fighting wasn’t always against me. It was usually for me. My brothers were always there to defend me and protect me from all sorts of evil. Like the big dog that lived down the street, the boy from the cul-de-sac or the scary clown that I thought lived in the sewer (thanks a lot Stephen King). Whether the threats were real or not, at least one of them was always there to calm me down and make me laugh, usually by inflicting pain on one of the other two. As I grew up, they taught me a whole lot about life. Rob showed me how to never give up and to always work your hardest. You may not start out where you want to be, but you can definitely still get where you want to go. Dan showed me the results that came with discipline and that it’s never too late to start over and go after what you want. Ryan showed me bravery, by vowing to put his life on the line for the safety of our country. That is a trait that I doubt I will ever be able to display as well as him, but I really hope he knows how proud of him I am. Even when I’m reluctant to show it. I’m very lucky to have all three of them and close relationships with them as well. They will always be see as three role models in my life. Thank you for loving me and always being there when I need you.

Thank you to my friends. I have a good amount of friends, some that I’m very close with and others not so much. But all of them still play major roles in my life, regardless of how often we talk or how long I’ve known them. I could go through each one and name what they’ve done to help me and why I value them but then this article would be really, really, really long. So I’ll cut to the chase. My friends honestly seem to know me a lot better than I could ever know myself. They can see when things are eating me alive and they always know exactly what to say to fix it. Or even if they don’t, whatever they do usually makes me smile anyway. I am so grateful to have friends who love me so much and make me feel like I’m just as valuable to them as they are to me. This past year was especially rough and everyone was so patient with me and they will never understand how much that means to me. All the days spent in John’s hot tub or all the chilly summer nights spent around the fire pit in my backyard really make me believe that even if I never made another friend, I would be completely ok spending large amounts of my time with the people I have now. That being said, I’m totally now for new friendships as well so if you ever want to hang out, just show up in John’s backyard, because that’s what all of us do anyway. Thank you for never expecting any more or less of me and for laughing at all of my really dark jokes. I wouldn’t replace any of you, except maybe Alana.

Thank you to my sister, who isn’t fully my sister just yet. To clear up the confusion, I’m referring to my older brother’s fiancé, Caitie. We never not be related by blood, even though you could never tell by looking at us, I knew she was meant to be a part of our family when I first met her. I loved having three brothers but it was kind of lonely never having a sister. Especially because that meant I had to buy all my own clothes and makeup because I didn’t have anyone to steal from. Actually, that’s what I did to my mom so I take that back. She has always been the person I go to with my problems, serious or not. Even when my stress has gotten the best of me and I’m crying because I dropped half of a bagel on the floor, she’s always there to listen wholeheartedly. Caitie has also always seen the person who I am, through all of the mess and constantly reminds me of that person and how great she is. She has helped me tremendously when it comes to building up my confidence and is never afraid to give me her true opinion. Finding people who are blunt with you is a lot harder than you think. Thank you for being a person to lean on as well as a person who is constantly helping me up. I’ll be gaining so much more than a sister.

Thank you to my extended family and close family friends. Technology may been seen as a distraction but it’s also a great way to stay connected. I may not get to see my relatives or other close family connections that often but I’m very appreciative of the support they are constantly giving through shared posts or text messages. It may not seem like much but the small comments really keep me going. Thank you for always building me up and voicing your concerns and excitement. It really means more than you know.

Thank you to all of the people who have left. There are definitely some broken relationships that I would love to fix or some that I would like to forget, but all of them have taught me some valuable lessons. I learned how to apologize as well as how to live with the consequences of my actions. I learned how to put myself first and leave behind those that were toxic to me. I learned how to forgive and move on. How to remember the good times but not let them destroy you. Everyone has things they wish they could change, I’m no different, but I’m thankful for the hard times because that just means there are more good times to come. Thank you for playing a role in my life, not matter how short or long, and helping me grow as a person, in more ways than one.

While writing this, it became a lot more personal than I originally was hoping, but at the same time, I really do want the people in my life to know that they’re appreciated. Their actions show me that I am important to them but I know I don’t always show the same back, even though I could never replace any of those people if I tried. I think it’s crucial to show or tell people that you care about them. Of course, you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone but also, it’s just nice to recognize people’s efforts. Even if they’re not going out of their way or not doing it to receive attention. I know my mom loves the small notes that we leave around for her, even if showing us that she cares is just scheduling our doctor’s appointments or setting up decorations on our birthdays. It doesn’t have to be some grand gesture but you have to remember that they could be completely absent from your life. Celebrate and thank the people around you because they’ve probably shaped you in ways you don’t even realize and love you in ways that could never be matched by anyone else.