It’s that time of the year once more. The leaves are changing color. The air is getting crisper, signaling the arrival of sweater weather – well, in some parts of the country, at least. My family in Florida has not experienced the cooling embrace of the season yet (I understand if you want to skip this introduction; I wouldn’t want 90-degree heat in November either). 

As the leaves become more orange and gently descend, it feels more and more like fall and of course, it feels more and more like a time for gratitude as the days until Thanksgiving pass. Gratitude requires reflection, which is something that not a lot of us have time for when our everyday lives are packed with one activity or errand after the other. We’ve lost touch with gratitude which is a shame because being grateful and acknowledging the positive aspects of your life is essential for our overall well-being and mental health. Gratitude helps people refocus on the things that truly matter instead of what might be lacking in their life. It’s a way to appreciate what you have and acknowledge the good in your life. By reading this, I hope to encourage people to acknowledge what they are grateful for. Perhaps, it might even spark inspiration for the upcoming Thanksgiving reflections around the dinner table. 

I’m most thankful for my family. You are now thinking, “Gab, that is the most common answer at the thanksgiving dinner table.” Yes, you are probably right. It’s an utterly basic response. There’s zero originality. But I’m going to expand on this. My family is truly like no other. We are very close. I mean very close. I can talk to my family about anything and maybe it’s not always the response I want to hear, but it’s oftentimes the response that I need to hear. They would do absolutely anything for me. For example, I had a hold on my registration for classes for the spring semester and I freaked out. My parents were able to have the hold lifted within the hour. When I need help, they will get it done.

It’s safe to say that college is an adjustment. From managing my academics to navigating the collegiate social world, it’s a significant change. I didn’t realize how much I valued my family until now. When I have a bad day, I can count on them to make me feel better. They make me understand the importance of recognizing the little things. The small positive moments, whether it’s a moment of laughter, a Pilates class, or a strawberry acai from Starbucks, serve as anchors, reminding me that even during a bad day, there’s always joy and brightness to be found. These small positive experiences release dopamine and create a positive feedback loop that unconsciously encourages you to seek more positivity but also reframes your perspective to look at things more optimistically. They teach me to not deny my challenges and difficulties, but training my brain to recognize the positive.