Annual What I Am Thankful For post.

For the past 2 years, I have written a "What I Am Thankful For" post so it only makes sense to continue. 

This year, I am thankful for:

*Healthy family and friends. No one in my life has recently been diagnosed or passed away. No one is sick or needing. Everyone is well and fine which is something so important today. With new diseases and cancers, unhealthy environments and increasing problems with Americans, it is something to be said that I know not one person suffering right now. 

*Passion. I know this sounds like an odd one, but recently, passion has saved me from spiraling down a slope of sadness. I recently joined onto a project (that I will disclose soon), will be applying as an editor for the newspaper I write for and joined onto a writing team for a website. These things have left me feeling good and proud of myself. 

*Lifelong friends. Having people you are comfortable telling things to and someone to laugh with always is key. I am thankful to have found a couple of these people that I know will be there for the rest of my life. I love them immensely and realize how important they are to my life. 

*Family. Of course I am thankful for my family. I already wrote about their health, but more importantly is that  I have family that supports me in my endeavors, loves me no matter what and are kind to everyone. 

*Getting a college education. In 2010, so many people are still not fortunate enough to receive a college education. While I may not like my school sometimes, I am lucky to be enrolled at a prestigious enough (and gaining) university, taking 6 classes a semester and learning about something I enjoy. In 2.5 years when I come out with a degree, I will be working towards a job and life may be a bit easier because I was able to attend college.

*Home. I am thankful to have a place to go this holiday and always. We had an oil spill in my house last week and thankfully, nothing bad happened besides a few barrels of hazardous materials waiting to be hauled out of the driveway and some money to clean it. While the cost may set my mother back a bit, we are lucky the house didnt burn down or become hazardous that we couldn't be inside.I am lucky to have a place thats warm and cozy that I can always go to. 

*Calm. I am thankful for (mostly) calm in our country, state and town. We are not in a battle zone, we are not in extreme poverty and nothing tragic has happened in the very recent past. I am thankful to live in a country where we celebrate community and dont have anything thats hindering that this year.