2020 has been a crazy year for everybody. We have experienced the COVID-19 global pandemic and many other issues alongside it. With so many negatives, it can be hard to be reminded of good things. Even though it is hard to get started, reminding yourself of things you are grateful for can be super beneficial to your mental health and attitude. 

One thing I know I’m grateful for is in-person school. If you had told me last year that I would love school as much as I do now, I would have laughed. I have always done well in school, but have only seen it as a normal thing and never truly enjoyed it. With the pandemic, I started my school year online. Not only was it hard being away from people, but it was really awkward being at a new school where I didn’t know anyone, and just seeing their heads through a computer screen really made it hard to make new friends. Once I started in-person, my mood significantly changed. During online school, I was really grumpy and depressed, however, now that I’m in-person, I’m more happy and energetic. Now I know never to take school for granted again.

Another thing I am grateful for is my cat. Throughout quarantine, I started hanging out with my cat, Alaska, more. I never really spent time with her or let her in my room because I had a hamster and hamsters and cats do not mix. Earlier this March, my hamster passed away. Whenever I was sad, Alaska would know. She came up on my bed and would sit with me. Even though I was sad over my lost pet, I was reminded of the amazing one I still had. She follows me around everywhere now and is one of my best friends. When we are going through hard times, we often lose sight of all the good things in life. If we all just take a moment to reflect, you can find all the things you can take for granted. Don’t forget to think of the things you are grateful for this Thanksgiving.