Although it’s not quite Thanksgiving yet, there isn’t just one day out of the year that I’m  thankful for all of my blessings — I try to do that every day (try being the key term here). It’s tough to narrow down what I’m most thankful for, but when thinking, there are several things that stand out. I decided to make a list of the eight things in my life I’m most thankful for:

• Most of all, I’m thankful to be here: alive, healthy, and happy. I’ve got a warm house that I don’t have to pay rent for, plenty of food, clothes, and a car to get me where I need to go, which is more than a lot of people can say for themselves.

• My family. Even though they drive me crazy half the time, I love them, and their love and support are a big part of what keeps me going every day. I don’t show it enough, especially to my brothers, but I really do appreciate a family that loves me.

• My parents. The lessons they taught and the morals they instilled in me when I was young are a huge part of who I am today. I’m not the most pleasant person sometimes (hard to believe, I know), but they’ve done their best to stand by me and support me no matter what. I don’t tell them this enough, but I genuinely appreciate everything they have done and continue to do for me.

• My friends. I’m not the kind of person who likes to be alone for too long, so seeing my friends is something I’ve done as much as possible ever since I got my license. My friends are some of the most important people in my life — I wouldn’t be who I am today without them. 

I’ve drifted from a lot of my older friends, but I haven’t forgotten any of them or the memories we made together. They all have a special place in my heart.

• My boyfriend, Lucas. We’ve only been dating for about two and a half months, but I’ve known him since I was 15. We didn’t talk for a couple years from then to now, but I’ve always considered him one of my best friends.

We became really close again over the summer — I can count on one hand the number of days we didn’t hang out since last June. He’s pretty much amazing, though. Genuinely kind, honest, generous. . . 

He’s so great to me, and I love him so much. Every time I see him I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have him in my life. He doesn’t realize how special he is, but I’m going to do my best to show him, because he’s already doing that for me.

• My job. Not only is it my source of income, but I get to do one of the things I’m both good at (or so I’ve been told) and love to do: write. Plus, I get to meet and interact with a lot of people, which I also enjoy. This job definitely isn’t boring, which is more than a lot of people can say about their jobs, so I’m pretty lucky.

• My pets. I have two cats at my dad’s house, and I adore them. They always greet me when I come home, and if I’m upset, one of them will come cuddle with me. They’ve got great personalities and add much entertainment and joy to my house.

It’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and sometimes stress of the holidays, but Thanksgiving is a good one to remind us that we just need to sit back, be with our loved ones, and realize just how blessed we really are. 

I hope you can see what your life has been blessed with, and never forget to tell the ones you love how you feel about them.