Thanksgiving: A Time to be Grateful
In this day and age it seems that the turkey and the pumpkin pie are the stars of Thanksgiving. While there is certainly nothing wrong with indulging in a holiday feast, it is important to not lose sight of what this festive time of the year is truly all about. I encourage you to stop and take a moment to reflect on all of the things that you are very lucky to have, and to have had, in your life. You don't need to write it out in a big long blog post as I'm about to do if you don't want (though it would be awesome if you did! ;D), but you should take a few minutes to appreciate the things that make life feel a little more magical... after all this holiday is called "Thanksgiving!"
Below I'll do my best to put to words how thankful I am for some of the things that make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Friends and Family
Those Near and Dear
Oh... If I could write a book listing all of the reasons my family is the best, nobody would ever read it because it would be so incredibly long! My parents and grandparents worked very hard to make sure that my siblings and I made plenty of memories in our childhood and that we went through our lives smiling and giggling and playing with all sorts of strange critters. :) My siblings were (and are) amazing too and are without a doubt my best friends. I am so thankful for having been blessed with such a wonderful family and give them full credit for shaping me into the strange little creature I am today. They've helped me to live a very magical life and words cannot express my gratitude. :)
Those Far Away
I'm still in constant contact with my family, however I've watched friends come and go over the years... and some have literally gone pretty far! Whether or not they are still a part of my life today, I am very happy to be able to think back to all of the wonderful times I've had with so many of those wonderful people. Sometimes I miss the days of catching butterflies in Pokemon balls with my old bestie next door, and the days we spent catching those pesky "spies" that were always interrupting our pet store adventures in the basement. I also miss those late, late night adventures (okay, very early morning) with my new-found friend through forests, across beaches and off to wherever the wind seemed to blow us. All of those memories are very dear to me and while I wish I could replay them over, and over again, I remember not to miss them all too much because those great times will always be safe and sound in my mind where they can be cherished forever. ;)
Plus... I know there are always more exciting memories to be made! Yay!
Those Reading this right now...
And when I think of all of the people that I am glad to have come across in life, I don't just limit the mental list to those I've physically met. There are so many wonderful people spread all across the world that I have had the pleasure of being able to come into contact with through the power of the internet. I've "met" many fellow mermaids, fairies, artists, and YouTubers that I've enjoyed keeping in touch with online, and value those relationships very much.
My viewers on YouTube are always so kind and I feel bad sometimes because when I type out a "thank you" reply it doesn't express my gratitude nearly as well as I'd like it to.... so if you are reading this and you are one of those extremely sweet individuals who are always commenting the nicest things, please know that behind every "thank you" there is a lot of emotion and a true appreciation for the gesture. And even if you don't comment, like, share, or make your presence known to me, I thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to watch my videos, read my blog posts, and to be a part of what it is that I do. It really means more than you'll ever know. :)
Experiences
Cherished Memories and Learning Experiences
Whether they were made with loved ones, complete strangers, or all by myself (that does happen!), great memories of good times and unforgettable experiences will forever be burned into my mind. Though they can only be admired in my thoughts, I can always reflect back on them and allow them to fill my heart with joy. As I mentioned earlier, friends and family are responsible for the majority of the happy days of the past, though I am also very thankful for the moments that have helped me to grow as an individual. From the things I have learned in schooling, through work, and through independent experimentation, these have helped me to become who I am now and are things that I do not take for granted.
Struggles and Hardships
And though they aren't the memories I'm most fond of, I am grateful for all of the not-so-wonderful moments in my life. I've had, and continue to have, my fair share of struggles... both internally and from external sources. Depression, social phobias, various health issues and financial woes are all things that I have battled with and am still at war with currently. In addition, I've also had a recent encounter with an individual from which I've learned a great deal about how not to treat others. Although such hardships and happenings don't exactly evoke very good feelings, I count them as blessings regardless, since they have made me a stronger, more capable, and more driven person.
Not to mention... I have a thing or two to prove now and look forward to rising up higher than the rubbish that has tried to hold me down! ;D
Everything Else...
This list certainly isn't all-inclusive and I know that I am leaving a few things out... but this has been a lot of typing, and my wrist is going numb! XD
I don't know if you read everything that I wrote, or if all of the text made your eyes bug out, but I want to thank you for clicking the "read more" button anyways. :)
I hope that you enjoy your holiday tomorrow, and that you will take a little time to appreciate all of the things in your life that make it special.
Happy (early) Thanksgiving!
XOXO- Mermaid Phantom
(P.S.) If you're interested, I did post a new video today with some exciting news about my first mermaiding gig. You can check it out here if you would like.