A lot has been on my mind lately. A lot of things that make me appreciate and really value all the many blessings and wonderful opportunities that I have in my life that others only dream and hope for their entire lives. And the part to make me feel even guiltier is that I take most of it for granted.
As I walked home from one of my classes today, I realized I need to write all I'm thankful for, and what better time to do so than the week before Thanksgiving? I feel like if I don't tell what I'm grateful for, I'm being extremely selfish and ungrateful to my friends, family, and especially my Savior and all that I've been given by them.
I am grateful that I am able to attend such a wonderful university--a university that even in the church schools is seen as the most influential and prepares us to be teachers and learners of the gospel. Sure, we're not in a cool place like BYU-Hawaii, or as academically and athletically competitive as BYU-Provo, but we are definitely the school that focuses on personal and spiritual growth while still taking rigorous classes. I love it.
I am grateful that I can get an education and get an occupation at such an early start in life. There are people in my classes that are just starting to get an education, because they've worked for so hard and so long their entire lives to simply get through a few years of university. I've worked for a long time, but not for 20 years to get through four years of school and then hope that the major I pick will accept me before the age of retirement. There are lots of people trying to get a chance with education here, people that have probably been hoping to go to school, but knowing it's too hard for them, but they try as hard as they can. When I see these 35-40 or older people in my classes, I almost want to cry--I have taken so much for granted. They have desired their entire life to get an education and have finally been able to come to gain an education, and I just see it as the next step in my life and figured it would just happen. It did, and I'm glad I have had the goal of going to university my entire life, but now I'm going to realize what a blessing gaining such an education really is, and how much people are struggling to have the experiences I get to have every day.
I am glad I have a healthy body, an intelligent mind, and a capacity to do the things I desire/need to do. There are so many people around campus that I see in wheelchairs, on crutches, or people that have disabilities, whether they're physical or intellectually, and I take even the most simple things I've been given for granted every day. The ability to climb out of bed by myself, the ability to feed, wash, and dress myself, the ability to learn without struggle or problems, and the ability to run and play to my hearts content. I take the use and simple movement of my body for granted, and I'm grateful that I have been so blessed to have the body I have.
I'm grateful for my teachers that I've had in the past as well as the present. I love my piano teacher in Midway, I love my school teachers--from Kindergarten to my classes I have right now, I love my music teachers and directors I've had in high school, and I even love my organ teacher, even though she is extremely strict, teases incessantly, and rolls her eyes at me when I don't have a perfect performance--she is helping me develop a talent that I'll be eternally grateful for. So even if she says my favorite rain boots have Elmo on them, and they're really owls, I'm grateful for her and her help in teaching me how to play the organ.
I'm grateful for my safety and a roof to cover my head. I'm glad I have a place to come home to, to sleep safely and peacefully at night, and to protect me from the outside harsh conditions. There are many people that go each day wondering where they're going to sleep, what they're going to eat, or if they'll even make it to see the next day. I never worry about any of these things. The only things I worry about like this, is if I have enough time between classes to take a nap, whether or not I have to eat macaroni again for a meal, or if I really have to get up the next morning and take huge exams in my classes for the entire day.
I am grateful for my family. I can't even begin to describe what a support they are for me, and how much I miss them. I talk to my mom often, my little brothers and I talk occasionally and laugh at all the funny things we used to do, my dad and I talk occasionally, and I have grandparents and aunts that called me on my birthday to wish me a happy day. I love every single one of my family members--even as crazy and quirky we all are. :) They're always there for me, and I hope to always be there for them.
I am thankful for the gospel. I am thankful that if I wanted to, I can serve a mission after graduating from university. I am thankful for the testimony that I have of our Savior and the love He has for me--my testimony of that has grown exponentially while being here at this university. I am so glad for all my many blessings that I have been given by Heavenly Father and the love He expresses for me daily. I'm thankful for the Spirit and its direction I am given every day in the important decisions I have to make. I'm thankful for our prophet, Thomas S. Monson and the revelation he gives to us in our day. I'm thankful for the scriptures and the amazing truth it holds for us. I'm thankful for my Patriarchal Blessing and the things it tells me and how it can change in meaning each time I read it. I'm thankful for Joseph Smith and the amazing spirit he had in order to restore this church and the gospel in the latter days. My testimony is probably based off of Joseph Smith's experiences and strength--he was such an incredibly strong man.
I am thankful for music and the ability I have to play several instruments, as well as teach people how to play them. Music truly has a beautiful effect on people, and I'm glad I get to share my talents, and teach people so they can share that gift with people around them as well. As much as I may have not appreciated teaching music students in high school, I absolutely loved it. The times where you could see that your students practiced and they increase in their playing ability, or the times where you explain a difficult technique, and you see the lightbulb come on in their head and they're able to play better--those were the best times. I'm so thankful that I learned music at a young age and have been able to get to the point where I can play almost any song I want to learn and I can teach music as a job if I needed to when I have a family.
I am so thankful that I'm an Elementary Education major, not a music major, or a graphic design major, or a home and family major. I love everything about this major. Every. Single. Thing.
I'm so thankful for my friends--where would I be without them? They lift me up, help me realize the important things in life, and have carried me up and over the difficult things in life that come through life. I am so thankful for all of them. Each and every one of my friends mean a lot to me. And I love each of them endlessly, and I'm so eternally thankful that they have been placed in my life. I know I was supposed to be friends with each of them, and that for one reason or another, we were supposed to rub shoulders with each other in this life.
I am so thankful for all my many blessings in life. I have so much to be grateful, and this season helps me realize what I truly have in life, and what I need to be thankful for. A lot of the time, we focus our lives on material goods and wealth, and all that matters is that we have the basics of life--basically most of the things I listed I'm grateful above.
I could keep going with many other things I'm grateful for, but I want to keep this simple.
I love the world. I love my life. I love the gospel. I love the many opportunities I'm given in life. I'm thankful for the Savior and the wonderful things He has done for me. I'm thankful for those I love and for those who love me.
I'm so very thankful.
Live. Love. Laugh. Grow.
