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Thankfulness Isn't A Season

Encouragement shouldn't be based on circumstances but love.

emilysimp15

Dec 03, 2018

Pennsylvania State University

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Why do we wait for Thanksgiving and the holiday season to start being thankful? Starting in November, we all start to post about how thankful we are for our friends and family. Especially on Thanksgiving, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook are taken over by "thankfulness" posts—lengthy posts, multiple pictures, and long text messages blow up phones during Turkey day.

The holiday season is all about togetherness and blessings. Thanksgiving is just the kickoff to the gratitude Super Bowl. I'm not saying that we shouldn't post pictures and express our gratitude during the holiday season because it is nice and feels great to know that you're loved.

The definition of thankfulness according to Dictionary.com is, "feeling or expressing gratitude; being appreciative." Nowhere does this definition link thankfulness to a time of year. So, why do we wait to be thankful? Why do we wait for the third Thursday of November to tell the people we love what a blessing they are in our lives? We can express our love in March or July or January. Or what about all of the time? Gratitude can be expressed 365 days a year. Everyone wants to know that they are loved and care for.

Everyone wants to feel like they make a positive impact on somebody's life. Don't wait. Don't wait to tell someone you love them. Tell them who they are becoming and how they've impacted your life. Who knows if we even have another holiday season together? Or tomorrow? Or even the next hour? Take the time today to encourage people. If we're being honest, we all need it.

Maybe someone is having a bad day and needs to know the truth about who they are. Maybe someone lost someone they loved, either emotionally or physically. But, maybe someone is having a great day and they just aced an interview or a test or a presentation. Encourage them too. Thankfulness isn't a season. Encouragement shouldn't be based on circumstances, but love. Take the time today and make it a habit. I promise you will be the best part of someone's day.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Thankfulness Isn't A Season

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25 reasons your last semester in college is the best and worst time of your life

"The Office" understands the struggle of the first week back from winter break.

1. Waking up for your first 9:00 a.m. class of the semester.

2. When you remember you have to walk in the freezing cold to your classes.

3. Feeling overly confident in your academic abilities on the first day of classes.

4. Walking into your first class and seeing friends from your major.

5. That moment when you open the syllabus packet to see what possible pain lies ahead.

6. You resent the professors that keep you for the whole class time on the first day.

7. When professors tell you too much about their personal lives on the first day of class.

8. When your professor tries to explain the benchmark assignment to the class.

9. Finding out the final exam in a class will be comprehensive.

10. When you're done with classes for the day and you finally get to take a nap.

11. Finding out a required textbook is out of stock at the bookstore.

12. When you're broke after buying your textbooks for the semester.

13. When you realize that you really need to start getting PATH points...

14. Impatiently waiting for all of your classes to be up on Isidore.

14. The realization that this semester will be harder than you anticipated...

15. Getting overly excited for going out on the first weekend back from break.

Each Disney Princess has their own personality, and chances are you've got a friend in your group to match it.

Cinderella, “The Clean Freak”

Snow White, “The Friendly One”

Belle, “The Studious One”

Mulan, “The Fighter”

Pocahontas, “The Peace Keeper”

Sleeping Beauty, “The Sleepy One”

Rapunzel, “The Sheltered One”

Tiana, “The Independent One”

Ariel, “The One Who Is Shy Around Men”

Elsa, “The Mom”

Anna, “The Impulsive One”

Say yes to new adventures!

It's full of opportunities to learn more things.

It's one of the easiest times to make friends.

It helps you learn how to think critically.

You get to focus on what you want to study.

Class is minutes away from your dorm.

. . . and the library

You won't be judged for going to class in your PJ's

You will truly create yourself.

If you are an ISU student, you will come across most of these things during your time on campus.

1. The wait for Buffalo Wild Wings is always going to be long on Thursday nights.

2. Another inevitable wait — the line at The Pub II on Wednesdays.

3. Your feet will automatically stick to the floor at Chasers.

4. The only place busier than The Alamo II during finals week for book returns is Chipotle on Halloween.

5. The. Train. Never. Stops. Choo-chooing.

6. The wind tunnel never gets better, and you never get used to it.

7. Your friends are either from a suburb of Chicago or a small town in Illinois — there is rarely an in between.

8. You know and probably love a bearded man named Bill Shields.

9. The squirrels on the quad double as our second mascot and wannabe pets.

10. The only time you really find yourself at the library is for a group project or during finals preparation.

11. You can spot a freshman a mile away if they have on their Fear The Bird shirt along with a lanyard around their neck.

12. The Normal Police Department has collected $275 from you.

13. Last, but not least, is that you just don't know what you would've done if you went anywhere else.

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