December 26th is National Thank You Note Day! After putting some thought into it, there is simply just not enough time in the world for me to write thank you notes to everyone in my life who deserves one. So instead, I decided to write a little something for a few people below.

To the people of Camp Burgess and Hayward, thank you for giving me a place that I have fallen so deeply in love with.

To the best friend who has seen all my phases since ECT together, thank you for being my loyal rock and a daily inspiration.

To the young man who introduced me to The Office, mango juice, and lamb, thank you for constantly encouraging me to push the boundaries my comfort zone.

To the underappreciated mother, thank you for doing everything you possibly can for me and for loving me so unconditionally even when I don’t show enough appreciation.

To the workers of Walt Disney World, thank you for giving my family a place full of such happy memories.

To the professor that my classmates made cry during a lecture my first semester of college, thank you for not being afraid to admit that you are human, too, and for going above and beyond to place emphasis on your students’ educations as a priority.

To the friend’s mother who referred to me as “insecure” before I was even old enough to understand the meaning of the word, thank you for motivating me to make sure no one else ever feels it right to call me that.

To the fifth grade teacher who forced me to try caviar when my diet mostly consisted of only chicken nuggets and mac ‘n’ cheese, thanks for a funny story I still share with friends.

To the chefs of Maguire’s Bar and Grille, thanks for making great honey hots.

To the Scottish gal who renewed my hope in real friendships, thank you for being your wonderful self and gargling salt water to the alphabet with me.

To the high school chemistry teacher with bright eye shadow and matching outfits, thank you for introducing me to something I am so passionate about and inspiring me to work hard at it no matter what.

To the camper who nearly threw up on me at five in the morning on a sleep-in day, thanks for proving to me that I’m definitely not ready to have my own kids any time soon.

To the brother who seems to be perfect at just about everything he does, thanks for motivating me to always put my best foot forward in whatever I do.

To the first ever co-counselor I had a cabin with, thank you for teaching me the true meaning of selflessness.

To the boys who have broken my heart, thank you for teaching me that all I need is within me.

To the teachers who absolutely love their jobs, thank you for cultivating the future of our world through educating students.

To the creators of Instagram, thank you for giving me five minute study breaks.

To the custodian of my high school, thank you for always cracking a joke and sharing a smile with anyone.

To the employee of a candy store in Rockport, thank you for making my day by explaining different chocolates to me.

To the boy who bumped into me in the bus line in fourth grade, therefore knocking me over into the ground and chipping my front tooth, thanks for a weird story I really don’t remember the entirety of.

To the grandmother whose Spanish text messages sometimes make zero sense, thank you for caring so much about my college experience.

To the third grade teacher who gave me calendars with daily writing prompts, thank you for introducing me to a manner of meditation and for encouraging my skills to blossom.

To the bus driver with the jolliest of waves, thank you for giving my family a hello to look forward to each day.

To the high school writing seminar teacher who encouraged me to write about my struggles, thank you for proving to me that it really is always darkest before the dawn and that the obstacles we overcome are what strengthen us at the end of the day.

To the “secret friend” I was convinced knew it was me gifting them, thank you for quickly becoming one of my biggest role models in so many ways.

To the sister who’s known her passion since she literally came out of the womb, thank you for inspiring me to never settle, but continue searching for what it is that truly makes me tick.

To the twin I’ve always wanted and finally received, thank you for always having my back no matter what and showing me how to actually have fun.

To the sorority family I’ve recently been adopted into, thank you for inspiring me every single day to work my hardest and for serving as such absolutely incredible role models for me.

To the fellow club members who have confidence in me enough to appoint and elect me to positions for the upcoming year, thank you for believing in my abilities and giving me the opportunity to grow as both a leader and a person.

To the guy who didn’t hold the door for me outside our dorm, thanks for causing me to run, trying to catch the door, and therefore falling on ice, bruising my backside - don’t worry, it actually was hilarious.

To the CIT Director who taught me quite literally everything I know, thank you for giving me the confidence to be a counselor and the skills necessary to be successful at it.

To the person who refuses to wear deodorant in the calculus lecture before mine, thanks for leaving such an awful scent that my classmates and I bond over having to bear.

To the co-counselor who took on the youngest cabin with me, thank you for enabling me to survive and being such a natural, not to mention an absolutely lovely human in general as well.

To the crazy best friend who came to rescue after a tough break up, thanks for always finding a way to get a laugh out of me.

To the sister who has sass like no other, thank you for teaching me that speaking your mind is admirable and often necessary.

To the co-counselor who found me in the darkness all the way in Cabin Winsloe, thank you for having way too much fun with me and helping our campers to create the greatest airbands performance of all time (even if we were scared out of our wits of their ouija board).

To the young man who gave me tiger eye and sodalite stones, thank you for always making me feel appreciated and for inspiring my daily positive outlook towards life.

My point is that there are a whole lot of people in this world who we wouldn’t necessarily think to thank for obscure things. But when you really reflect on it, even those people who have hurt you, have helped to shape you into the person you are today. There really is a positive side to everything. That being said, the amount of love and support that flies under the radar and goes unnoticed on a daily basis is wild. I encourage you to take ten minutes out of your day and write a thank you note to someone you wouldn’t normally think to thank.