Happy Thanksgiving!

Before you go off and wait for 24 hours to get that black Friday deal, take a moment to look at what you have that others don't. Be thankful for your blessings.

Recently I went to Portland, Oregon, where I saw so many people experiencing homelessness. After helping provide a listening ear, and warm food, I realized how blessed I was to not have to worry about where to go to the restroom at, or how were you going to get food and stay warm.

Many of them had such a positive outlook on their situation and you could see that they were truly thankful for us serving them. That changed my whole perspective on what I have now, and what I never even give a second thought about.

I encourage you all to write a list of all the things you are thankful for, and then think about whether u really need it, or whether you need to show recognization and appreciation to those who give you those things.

Below, I have a general list of what I'm thankful for, but I encourage you to go further and really explore what u often take for granted.

10 Things I am thankful for:

1. My family, for choosing to adopt me, and supporting a better future for me.

2. My teachers, for helping me grow, even when I didn't want to, Especially Mr. Tracewell

3. For all those who have served to protect the USA, those in Military, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Response

4. For the freedom of religion and For the freedom of speech, which lets me write my opinions in the Odyssey Online articles.

5. For my friends: especially Matt W, Jeffery G, and Raedel R for putting up with my weirdness and still hanging out with me.

6. For the food that I have, the shelter I live in, and for the ability to not worry about being jobless.

7. For those who have changed my perspective on life, especially my counselors, and my Religious Community

8. For the ability to be able to go to college, and get an education.

9. For this computer, which allows me to do so much, like type articles and etc. I often take technology for granted, until I don't have it. I am also thankful for the nature and the planet we live in.

10. I am Thankful to God for His support and love, for all He has sent me, and for carrying me when I would fall down, Thank You for forgiving my sins, for protecting me and Thank you for dying on the Cross to save us. Thank You for Everything, You have sent the coolest people in my life, people that I can't even thank enough.

I am blessed to have all of this.

I wanted to share my blessings with those experiencing homelessness and denial. If the people experiencing Homelessness can sit down with you and for ten minutes, thank you for serving them food and listening to their story, the least we can do is show gratitude for the blessings we have. Not just on Thanksgiving, but every day.

Black Friday can wait... Go spend time with your family and friends who give you so much to be thankful for.

I wish all of you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank You

Ian White