Thanksgiving is officially one week away and I can’t help but allow daydreams about turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie with extra cool whip dance through my brain.

If you couldn’t tell, I am very thankful for a hot meal!!

But, that’s not just because I am a college student on a budget who needs a (free) hot meal to keep my sanity. I’m also thankful that I am privileged enough to have a warm home to return to and a big meal to enjoy surrounded by a loving family. 

If you’re similarly privileged, having a home and a hot meal to come home to probably sounds like a microscopic, almost negligible thing to even stop and think about. But we shouldn’t take things like this for granted. My goal for this Thanksgiving (and the rest of this year) is to reflect on all those tiny things that I barely take the time to think about, much less feel grateful for.

Everyone’s life situation is different, so of course not all of these will apply to everyone. But read on for my list of all the little things I often forget to be thankful for, and let these reminders help you live a more grateful Thanksgiving and life: 

1. Having a home to actually go home to. If you’re lucky enough to have this, don’t take it for granted! Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families suffering in California.

2. Hot meals and never having to worry when our next one might be. Again, this is something that many people don’t have this time of year.

3. Family who loves you through every moment in your life (even the bad ones). No matter how big or small, if you have a loving family, you’re truly blessed.

4. Being able to see the world through our own eyes. There’s only one you who has experienced what you have. That’s pretty cool to think about.

5. Being able to physically and legally voice our opinions, letting ourselves be heard. (See my post on avoiding post-election apathy to be reminded of the importance of voicing your opinion!)