Growing up as a Mexican-Guatemalan-American, it isn't very traditional or part of my parent's tradition to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. However, I can remember taking part in Thanksgiving with my family ever since grade school. My mom bakes the turkey and we mash our potatoes. We cook gravy and we sit down and gobble it up with crescent rolls my dad and I bake. We also spill all the family gossip, but that's for another article! However, one of the biggest things that my mom always talks about is how we should count our blessings and be grateful for what we have. We have all been impacted by this year, whether we like it or not. I thought that now would be a great time to write an article about 5 things I'm grateful for. Whether it be basic or not, it's important to hold these things close. The good things will keep us going.
1. I'm grateful for family.
Seeing as this was a year of loss for some families, I am extremely grateful to be living at home with my parents. I continue to have the opportunity to have them close to me. Growing up Hispanic, almost everyone makes the joke about how we squish the whole family into one house. It's nice to have someone to go to when you're in times of trouble, especially if they're going to hit you with the truth in the form of a chancla/huarache (sandal).
2. I'm grateful for insulation.
To quote Taylor Tomlinson from my last article, "Winter is coming!" I know that if it gets slightly chilly, I'll be breaking out my heavier hoodies. Anyway, I say this one because when I went to Peru a few years ago, I was freezing on the mountain the whole time. I will forever be grateful for having a warm bed and an insulated room. I know that many are less fortunate during times like these, and I hope that they get to experience that type of security soon.
While I have your attention here, if you live in a city with a big homeless community and you are able to go out and volunteer your time in a soup kitchen, make a difference and do it. For my pals in Fort Myers, Florida, Community Cooperative is always looking for volunteers!
3. I'm grateful for my boyfriend.
I love the boy and honestly, if we hadn't had all the conversations we had in the last year, it might have taken me a decade to figure out that I wanted to be a teacher! He's one of my best friends and has been a rock for me in depressing times. I am very lucky to have found a sweet guy who can laugh at my nerdy jokes and GIFs and play along.
4. I'm grateful for good health.
This is a big one, epecially this year! I haven't caught COVID-19 and while I did get sick a few times in the last months, I am happy to say that it's all been okay. No one I know has been extremely sick, so I am just hoping that it will stay like that until this all blows over.
5. I'm grateful for school.
As hard as it has been this semester and as much as I have struggled, I wouldn't change a thing. I was finally able to find my passion and find a way to turn it into a career this semester. I think that as long as I have drive and motivation, I will be excited to keep going back to school. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to learn.
