Over the weekend, the country gathered together to share in Thanksgiving. Of course this is a great time for endless trays of green bean casserole and enough turkey until you pass out. However, I think it’s far too easy to forget about what we all are truly thankful for. I am guilty of easily finding the negative aspects in my life before appreciating what I do have.

Earlier this year, I was hospitalized in the ICU for complications with my diabetes. I was so sick to the point that I was absolutely at risk of dying. However, I am still here. I am so thankful for my life; that I can be here to write this article today. At only 22 years old, I have too much life to experience before it’s my time to leave. I have to remember that every day is truly a gift.

I am thankful for my sister. Because of my sister, I appreciate the much smaller things in life. Living with disabilities, she still manages to be happy all of the time. (Well, most of it.) Alicia does not need a life of luxuries and extras because as long as she has music to dance to and a football game to watch, she is a happy camper.

I am thankful for my boyfriend who miraculously puts up with me day in and day out. Not only did we meet in the most magical place on earth, but he chose to uproot his life completely to move to cold New England to be closer to me. He reminds me on a daily basis the importance of laughing daily and loving simply. Without him, I’d be stressed for probably no reason at all.

I am thankful for my family because I have learned that your cousins are like siblings and you will ALWAYS have someone in your corner. My family is probably loudest, craziest bunch of people I have ever met in my life, but I am so proud to be apart of it all. Family functions are never lacking in endless laughs and backyard Olympics. They’ve taught me how to have fun anywhere, anytime.

I am thankful for my boyfriend’s family who welcomed me with open arms. They’ve made trips both to Florida and New England to visit us, and their door is always open when we can visit. They truly treat me like one of their own and it’s appreciated more than they will ever know.

I am thankful for my work family because I’ve learned the importance of having fun while working. Any work environment can get mundane and exhausting, but we always manage to get our job done while laughing in the process. I have the most incredible group of people supporting me at work and you don’t find that just anywhere.

I am thankful. I have a roof over my head, food to eat, clothes, to wear and so much more. I have no right to complain about any aspect of my life, because people have it worse off than I do. Going into this holiday season, please remember to give what you can and receive what is given. Love everyone because you never truly know what they’re going through behind their smile.