It was two years ago, right around Thanksgiving, that my eating disorder was starting to develop. I spent last year relapsing, and wondering if every November would send me into a tail-spin.

All of one more year has brought immense change in my life though, and for the better. I’ve barely had time to think about the fact that it’s already November. (Applying to college and for financial aid is a full time job, I’m telling you.) So this year, the holidays are already off to a much better start, and I am so grateful.

Thanksgiving only comes around once a year—a day for us to pause and spend a day enjoying family and expressing gratitude for the blessing in our lives. Here are a few of mine:

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) Intuitive eating: It’s been a long time coming. It’s taken a lot of work to get here. I’m doing it though, and it is awesome. I love it.

3) Music: I will forever be thankful for the gift music is to the world. I also love my instrument so very much, and I am so grateful for all of the time and money my parents have poured into my passion for playing the flute.

4) Education: I can’t imagine not being able to go to school because of physical distance or a lack of supplies needed, or having to drop out early to care for my family, or having to worry about being shot for wanting to learn, or anything of the sort that so many children and teens face in other countries around the world. I love learning, and education is priceless.

5) Opportunities to travel: Thanks to the flight benefits we receive as part of my mother’s job, we do our fair share of traveling. Every trip we make is such an adventure because nothing is ever certain in a non-rev’s world.

6) 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 our 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 may have already noticed, 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.

7) Instagram: Seriously, to all of my followers reading this: I love you gals! The community on Instagram is such a neat thing.

7) Writing: I never thought I’d see the day when I communicated better through writing than talking, yet here I am. I’m just thankful for written language, and for having enough education to use it.

8) Pilates: I just love pilates so much.

9) Darryl the Dog: This little creation brings so much joy to our entire family. I’m gonna miss him bucket loads when I’m away at college next year.

10) The little things: They do mean the most, after all. For example, just the other day, I was about to fall asleep in my bed in the middle of the afternoon, and let me tell you, it was so dang comfy. I ended up going downstairs just to tell my mama that I appreciate the bed she and my father have provided for me.

Allow me to leave us with this: “Cultivate the habit of being grateful.” 

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to show our appreciation, but making gratitude a part of daily life brings so much joy and contentment.