While it’s great to be thankful year round, Thanksgiving is a special time to express gratitude for all that we have. Today being Thanksgiving, I wanted to go ahead and share the list of things I came up with this year that I’m thankful for:

1) Redemption: Without the beautiful gift of salvation, my life would mean absolutely nothing. It’s a gift I could never do anything to earn, but have, instead, been so graciously given.
2) Anorexia Nervosa: This one may seem odd, but I fully believe that God is going to use my struggle with it to benefit His kingdom. I also know that it’s playing a role in shaping me into the woman He wants me to be. So yes, I’m thankful for my experience with it because I know it will be just one part of a beautiful, larger picture.
3) My treatment team: I sadly know entirely too many people who don’t trust their therapist, who dislike their dietitian, and who can’t stand the others involved in treating their eating disorders. I’ve been so blessed to have found a wonderful therapist, dietician, and whole health doctor who all only want what’s best for me.
4) My incredible support system: While I’m grateful for anyone who’s been a part of it, I’m especially thankful for those who’ve played more prominent roles- including my parents and dear friend H.
5) Music and my flute: I absolutely love my instrument, and improving my ability to play it over the past five years has been such a gift. There’s also music that others create for our enjoyment as we listen to it. Both forms are such a huge part of my life and bring me such great joy.
6) The Homeschool School: For reasons of privacy, I’ve not included the name of the school, but instead what my family has nicknamed it. I’m so grateful to have this resource, an unaccredited school that offers high quality classes for homeschoolers, to help me finish my high school credits while at home.
7) Christmas Traditions: My family doesn’t have that one vacation we take every year, but we do have that one spinning Christmas tree we decorate year after year with the ornaments we’ve collected from all of the new, adventurous vacations we take each year. We have the same icicle lights we put up on the house each year. We have the same ceramic nativity scene I lay out each year. We have the same handmade advent calendar we put Hershey kisses on each year. We listen to the same music and eat the same cookies as we pull all of these decorations out each year. Christmas time, as you will all quickly learn, is my favorite time of year- hands down. A Christmas season wouldn’t feel complete without all of our traditions, and I’m so thankful for them and excited that they all begin tomorrow!
8) Writing: It’s become such an outlet for me in recovery, a way to work through the jumbled thoughts in my head. Between journaling nightly and blogging, I’ve come to a lot of realizations about myself and the state of my mind at the time.
9) Hard Workouts: I’m thankful to be allowed to workout, and I’m thankful for the ability to really work up a sweat.
10) Instagram: My Instagram account documenting my recovery has been a huge source of support, whether it be encouraging comments from my followers, or inspiring posts from the people I’m following.
11) Carefree moments, real smiles and laughs: The freedom of real happiness is one I don’t take for granted after faking happiness too many times.
12) All of the lovely luxuries I have as a result of hard working parents and living in a free country.
13) The little things: They do mean the most, after all.

I hope all of you have had wonderful Thanksgivings!