The whole month of November has always been about being thankful, but sometimes that’s really hard to do. I personally think that you should be thankful and positive about everything year-round, not just in the month of November. One of the ways I stay positive and grateful is by taking a few minutes out of every day to do some self-reflection. I think about my life and acknowledge that I could have it so much worse. It’s always true, of course, that I could have it so much better, but you shouldn’t focus on what you don’t have. Instead, focus your time, energy, and thoughts on what you do have.
10 things I’m thankful for:
I am grateful for the tears I shed because it shows me that I’m human and am capable of showing emotion. I am thankful for the memories I have of you, even if they’re bittersweet, because I would never want to forget you. I am thankful for the days I feel like doing nothing more than dying because I know that to reach the highest peak, you must hit the lowest low. I am thankful for my flaws, stretch marks, and scars because they show I have lived on this earth and not only survived, but thrived. I am grateful for the extra weight I gain around my stomach and thighs because it shows that I have food and I don’t struggle for my next meal. I am grateful for the things I hate about myself because, without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am thankful for all the things teenagers experience, whether it be bad or good, because I know that I’m alive and going through a hard but important stage in my life. I am thankful for the horrible things I have to see because I know that with those same eyes, I witness some of the most beautiful things in the world. I am grateful for the heartbreak I feel because it shows that all the love I felt was genuine. And lastly, I am grateful for everything that was ever thrown at me in my life because, so far, I’ve done pretty good, and I know that I can make it through the rest of my life because I’ve already gotten through 15 years.
Obviously you’ll have those days when you feel like the whole world is caving in on you, and you’re not thankful for much — and that’s perfectly normal. Just be aware of how much negativity you put out on a daily basis. If you’re constantly moping around and hating your life every single day, you might want to switch it up and try to be thankful about everything you normally would hate.
Just take some time out of your day and think about all of the things you’ve been blessed with. I promise you’ll be better for it.