2016 has been a hell of a year. There have been plenty of downs throughout the past 11 months, but there have been countless ups, and I find myself filled with gratitude for so many things in my life. I'm thankful for the little things, which are actually the big things, the people in my life who have made a difference, regardless of their position in my life now, and the love and laughter I experience on a daily basis. I'm especially thankful for my friends and family, who told me some of the things that they're thankful for on Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter, and who give me material and motivation to write. Take a moment this November to thank the people in your life, and appreciate each other just a little more than usual. Here's some of the things that fill the people in our lives with gratitude.

"I'm thankful for my best friend, because she's helped me through so much throughout the past five years. She's 900 miles away, but we still talk every day and she's my favorite person. She always knows the right thing to send me or the best way to make things seem a little less scary."

"Friends."

"My friends, because they always put a smile on my goofy face."

"I'm thankful for all my friends because they are literally THE best! They are hella sweet, thoughtful, loving, and supportive. I love them to death."

"I'm thankful for J. because he's always by my side, through ups and downs, and never can't put a smile on my face, or let me cry on his shoulder. He endlessly lets me rant or talk about anything and understands me. Also my girlfriends, because they're behind me every step of the way, and they support my decisions and let me be silly and myself around them."

"So beyond thankful for books, because the world and reality are too boring for me to take some days."

"My friends who support me!"

"I'm thankful to live in Colorado and everything about the seasons and everything around me."

"Thankful for a career that allows for my independence and for me to help people realize their dreams in a new home."

"I'm so thankful that I have amazing parents that support everything I do, and encourage me to follow my dreams everyday."

"Being surrounded by wonderful people (friends, family, co workers), love, and the ability to wake everyday under a roof and food."

"My parents, they've always been there for me."

"Finally thinking that I'm big alone and that people like me."

"I'm thankful to be living in a time and place where I can express my sexuality/gender freely without (too much) fear of backlash or ridicule."

"'I'm thankful for my best friends/roomies."

"Thankful for my friends, (most of) my family, warm blankets, sweaters, and hugs."

"I appreciate tf out of this girl. She has been with me through so many rough things and has stuck by my side no matter what. I consider her what anyone would call a real ass friend."

"Being alive. I think it's easy to become overwhelmed by the negativity of the world we miss out on the hidden gems in life. And our life isn't guaranteed tomorrow."

"I'm thankful for my friendship with your mom. We've been friends for 27 years, and have lived far apart for about 24 of those years. However, whenever we get together it's as if we just saw each other a moment ago. Everyone should be so lucky to experience a friendship like that."

"I'm thankful for the wonderful friends and family that surround me."

"I am thankful for "good health" because if you don't have your health, you don't have a quality of life. I am also thankful for my family ,including all my former students, especially YOU."

"I'm thankful you and E.S. have such a great friendship."

"Doy gracias por all the young people I have met in their teens and who now are productive, happy, and loving as adults! Our future is bright because of hitos and hitas like you!"

"I'm thankful for my TJ (the school we go to) family. I'm lucky enough to be a part of choir, theatre, and gymnastics. In each program there are incredibly supportive, talented, and passionate people. I'm so grateful for them and everything they do."

"GRSF (Great River Shakespeare Festival)."

"My girlfriend."

"I'm thankful for my sisters because they are my best friends that I'll never lose."

"My dogs and vegan chicken wings!!!"

"Being cured of my disease, because I am no longer in a hospital."

"I'm thankful for education."

"I'm thankful for all the people who support me in my life because knowing you have people who you can always turn to or go to with anything is one of the best feelings."

"My best friends because they keep me sane."

"I'm thankful for mozzarella sticks, because obviously."

"Puppies!"

"I'm thankful I can go see my grandpa for Christmas every year even though he can't come to me."

"N.V., because he's such an amazing teacher."

"Friends and family."

"Thankful for my family, friends, and godson. They give me the motivation to get up every day and do what I need to. Without their support, I would not have gotten to where I am, the oldest sister, first child, beloved friend of others, and now a Nina."

"YOU!"

"I'm thankful for blankets when my roommates won't let me turn on the heater."

"I'm thankful for my life experience because it's shaped me into who I am today!"

"I'm thankful for the community I am a part of and how inspiring they are to me."

"I'm thankful for my friends."

"My doggie, Maggie."

"My job, because it lets me meet hundreds of new people every day."

"My friends and family because they support me and encourage me each day."

"My family because they support me and are by my side for everything I do."

"My family, they are always there for me even if I've messed up."

"My friends because they make me laugh."

"I'm thankful for every breath and step I take, because I know each is a blessing that can't be taken for granted because of how many people don't get the same opportunity as me."

"I'm thankful for my family, friends, and soccer, because all of them are very important to me."

"I'm thankful for my friends, dogs, snow, and every day."

"You!"

"I'm thankful for my friends and family!"

"I'm thankful for my family because even at my lowest they have always picked me back up and made me the person who I am today, and even when I've made decisions they have always supported me."

"My cat because she's fluffy and my BFF."

"For my friends!" -.

"My friends and my football team."

"Thankful for my artistic ability."

"I'm thankful for hugs."

"Thankful for my family and all of their endless support."

"I'm thankful that everyone has different interests and things that they are passionate about, because diversity in thought is so important."

"I'm thankful for getting to go home to see my family."

"Bees, because food, and also GRSF, music, and acting."

"I'm thankful for my very best friend because I can't imagine life without her."

"I'm thankful for my friends, family, dogs, and good health."

"Thankful for pens because they let me express my emotions."

"I'm thankful for T., because he makes my days really happy and cares for me lots, and does whatever he can to bring me up when I'm feeling down."

"I'm thankful for music. No matter what time or situation, there's always a song that speaks to my heart and sends a genuine message to my brain. As a musician, it's giving me such a good outlet to let my mind speak when there are no words to describe how I feel, and it always seems so right."

"Diving, because it keeps me active and healthy, and I've met some of my best friends because of it. It keeps me focused and motivated, because the academic side of it for both high school and college is huge. It also helps me learn how to balance my schedule and I've learned a lot from the sport and a lot about myself through it."

"My daughter!"

"I'm thankful for the sunrise and all of the new people that I've met this year, as well as everything good happening to those around me."

"My family and friends who are always there to support me, and being able to get an education."

"My siblings, because they can support me in awkward situations."

"My family and friends, because they are everything to me and I wouldn't be here without them."

"I'm thankful for how strong I have been able to be considering all the hardships I have been put through."

"My dogs, because they always make me happy, and my awesome friends and family."

"I'm thankful for having the opportunity to study and grow up in a good environment where I have enough resources to develop my skills."

"I'm thankful to be involved in a welcoming community that enables me to pursue my passions."

"Cats, because they're fluffy, soft, cuddly, and make you feel important and loved."

"My major (sociology), because I know it'll help me have a better understanding of the world and everyone in it. I'll be able to help people and maybe make the world a better place!"

"I'm thankful for being able to smile at the little moments I experience throughout each day, and that I'm a happy person."

"My families all over the world- real family, friends, GRSF, India host family, India exchange students family."

"Definitely my dad, because he's the rock of our family and my best friend."

"I'm thankful for my friends because they make my days brighter."

"I'm thankful for my sisters because they've helped me figure out how to live in this world, guided me when I need help, and shown me how important love is."

"Thankful for cats, because who else is gonna cuddle with me? Also, thankful that I have a safe, healthy family."

"Dogs, because they're cuddly."

"I'm thankful for my job. I've been here for two years, and I love all of my coworkers and the skills I've learned. I can talk to large crowds better than before and keep calm in stressful situations."

"I'm thankful for having an opportunity to further my education by going to college and having my parents help and support me through my college journey."

"My friends, because they give me life and make me smile."

"I'm thankful for my friends, my dogs, and music. My friends are my backbone and I wouldn't be here without them, my dogs are my favorite because when I'm sick or sad, they try to make me feel better and always cheer me up. And I would've gone crazy a long time ago without music. It's my release, my escape."

"I'm thankful for my family, friends, and dog for supporting me and making me happy every day even when I'm down."

"I'm thankful for supportive friends, because they make me feel wanted."