Therefore, I am thankful for...

Books behind the bed

1. My mom, I am immensely grateful that she is in my life and for the close relationship we share. Like any relationship worth keeping, it's been difficult for the both of us. There are times that we annoy each other or get mad, but those moments always pass fairly quickly. I believe we are so close because we listen to each other and act thoughtfully. Working on communication is the most important in a relationship.

2. Books, I have loved them even before I could read. I'd flip through picture books and doodle in them when I was tiny! Once I learned to read, it didn't take much encouragement to get me to read. In elementary school, every time we went to the school library I'd get a new book to read for the week. I was even part of the story telling contest at my school for three years, where I recited a short book I had memorized. I never won the contest, but I loved reading enough to continue! As a teenager, my disappointments in romance and friendships reminded me of my love for literature. I read non-stop that summer after 9th grade, and I haven't stopped reading much since then.

3. Art, looking at it in museums or in books. Doodling in my notebook, drawing from life, coloring books, messing around with those crappy watercolors as a kid; I've appreciated art as long as I can remember. Growing up, one of the most positive influences my dad had on me was when he painted in oils. There have been times when I stop drawing for a while, but I always come back!

4. Writing, because if it weren't for writing I'd be like Holden Caulfield. Well, what I'm saying is I'd write in an asylum instead of the comfort of my bed… My love for reading combines with my love for writing. I have always been a word geek, excited at new vocabulary. In elementary school they'd give us a vocabulary list each week and we would have to define it, find it's synonyms and antonyms, write it in sentence, and at the end of the week take a quiz. The secret of my success in vocabulary is I enjoy the novelty of learning new words, I loved the dictionary. Honestly, I still do. That's something I am thankful for too, dictionaries!

5. Cameras, I've never had a spectacular or tremendously expensive professional camera but I've always loved taking pictures. Click, and you more or less capture a moment. I enjoy looking through pictures and reliving times that I enjoyed, it cheers me up.