5 Things I'm Thankful For
when it's over, i want to say: all my life, i was a bride married to amazement. i was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.
I know that I don’t need a reason to be thankful or share my gratitude as it should be an everyday practice. Still, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, I felt inspired to share a few things that I have been particularly grateful for recently.
The holidays are usually pretty difficult for me. I have a pretty estranged relationship with both of my parents. It has always been difficult for me to “fit” with the remainder of my family aside from my grandparents, so needless to say, it is always difficult for me to not play the “comparison” game around Thanksgiving / Christmas when I see other healthy and happy families.
That being said, I want to get a jumpstart on shifting my perspective this year into a place of complete gratitude because, regardless of the negative, I have so much to be thankful for.
5 things I’m thankful for this year
My Grandparents - Phyllis & Dallas
I have mentioned it a few times on my blog and my Instagram, but it is worth noting that my grandparents raised me and are essentially my parents. They have been married for 60+ years, and their loyalty to each other is a beacon that I will always admire. With my uncle passing away from an aggressive brain tumor this past summer, I am more grateful than ever that I still have my grandparents in my life.
Jake
This one is probably a duh, but I couldn’t create a list of everything that I am thankful for without mentioning my boyfriend, Jake. He truly is the backbone that keeps my life together. He keeps me rational, sane and is always my biggest supporter.
Beaufort
Beau is always at the top of my gratitude list, but after a health scare this past week, I can’t help but look over at him while writing this and feel so overwhelmed with love for him. Beau is the first animal that I have ever owned and been responsible for completely independent of my grandparents or another person. He has helped me through much anxiety in the past four years, and he truly is the sweetest. I am not sure what humans did to deserve dogs, but thanking Jesus extra for knowing our hearts and what we need before we knew.
My Health
I try never to take for granted that I live a relatively painless and comfortable life. I am so grateful that I can walk on my own, create art and write with my hands, use my mind to articulate my thoughts and communicate with my loved ones, and that I can breathe in/out with two expansive lungs. I am so endlessly grateful.
My Support Team
This one may also be pretty self-explanatory, but I am so thankful for my people. I have a solid group of friends and best friends that look out for me and who always have my best interest at heart. I love being surrounded by people who aren’t afraid to call me on my shit and will be brutally honest with me when necessary. Without the support of my friends and my boyfriend, I probably would have never had the courage even to start a Bookstagram or even to be writing the words that you are reading right now. You know who you are — thank you.
