Count Your Blessings

The holidays is a time to think about what we're thankful for - the family and friends who love us unconditionally, the jobs that give us stability, the pets who bring us joy, the many activities that let us escape from the rest of the world. And with Thanksgiving being last Thursday, I recently have reflected upon what I truly am thankful for and what I hold dear more than anything else. I have a great roommate and a great apartment. I have a new job that I'm going to be starting soon (more on that to come later). I have wonderful parents that let me come to NYC to pursue my dreams. I have great family and friends who will support me no matter what.

But it wasn't Thanksgiving that really had me counting my blessings. No, it was more recent events. Today, there was an attack on the campus of the Ohio State University campus. The attacker supposedly steered his car towards other students and then jumped out and stabbed whoever came in his way. In total, 11 people were injured (more about the story can be read here). I myself am from Ohio. I have several close friends and many, many acquaintances who attend OSU. Hearing about this attack felt like it was an attack on my own campus, even though I didn't even go there. As soon as I heard, I immediately texted my friends who go there to make sure that they were OK. Thankfully, all of them were safe and unharmed.

It's just a reminder of how much we take things for granted. Why is it that we don't really realize how much things mean to us until they're almost taken away from us (or there's a threat of them being taken away from us)? Every day is a blessing. Everyone that is in our lives is a blessing. We hold on too much to our possessions and that clouds our judgement. We all have too much stuff. We complain too much. We focus too much on things. And we take them all for granted. There are so many people who live happier lives with less than we have. And that's because they realize what's truly important.

Don't complain about your job. Be thankful you do something that can pay the bills. Don't complain about your family. Be thankful you have people that love you unconditionally. Don't complain about friends. Be thankful you have people that won't judge you for the amount of pizza and wine you can consume in one sitting and will always listen to your stories about your boyfriend. Don't complain about your house. Be thankful you have a constant place that will keep you warm and sheltered. Anything and everything can be taken away in a second. Always remember that.