Day Eighty Four: Thankfulness

It’s not Thanksgiving Day yet, but you might’ve guessed this post was coming at some point. I want to talk about things I’m thankful for, partly because I had a very lazy day with not much to mention, and partly because I just think it’s good to consider what you’re thankful for.

The Choice. I’ve written about this book a few times, but today I finished it. It’s truly an incredible memoir written by a Holocaust survivor who spends her life actively trying to help people accept and heal themselves from whatever cages they’re in. She talks a lot about feeling your feelings, letting yourself be who you are, and taking responsibility for yourself. This is one of my favorite quotes:

“The biggest prison is in your own mind, and in your pocket you already hold the key: the willingness to take absolute responsibility for your life; the willingness to risk; the willingness to release yourself from judgement and reclaim your innocence, accepting and loving yourself for who you really are—human, imperfect, and whole.” -Edith Eger

I’m thankful for writing because it’s important and cathartic.

I’m thankful, obviously, for my friends and family. I can’t wait to get home to them and hug them and tell them stories and listen to theirs. I’ve got some really good people in my life.

I am thankful for the experiences I have had on this trip. I’ve visited so many countries, gotten to learn about so many new and different people, gotten to take classes in another country and language, to learn another language, to live with a family from a different culture and get to be a part of it and learn from it. I’m thankful for my sweet host family and the delicious food they’ve given me. I’ve learned more about independence, myself, others, and the world. I’ve learned that twenty-somethings are still so young and bound for growth, change, and lessons.

I’m thankful for the steps I’ve taken to grow more here, on my own. I’ve learned about my body, my mind, and the things I like and don’t like, what I want and don’t want. I’m thankful for the confidence to pursue those things despite other people’s opinions.

I’m thankful for the people who read this blog, for those who support me, and for those who I see are making an effort to encourage me being here despite them wishing I could be home with them. I love and miss you all.

Finally, I am thankful for the human brain, for emotions, for the fact that we get to choose how to spend our time and how we respond to life. I’m thankful we have each other to learn and grow from, that thoughts can be communicated from one brain to another, and moments, and feelings, and that we can grow together. I’m thankful for music, for nature, and for the world. I’m thankful to be breathing and healthy and waiting for a delicious meal cooked for me with love.

Today is not Thanksgiving, and I don’t get to see my family this year which is hard, but I do get to be in Spain, and I am thankful for so much.