Lindsey Nordby

With Thanksgiving being just a few days ago, I have been in a very reflective mood.

This year, our celebration looked a little different. Rather than doing a large family celebration, we decided to do something at home just the two of us. This allowed me to try out some new recipes, making a whole feast for just the two of us. It also allowed us to shepherd a new tradition that we will continue throughout every Thanksgiving from now on.

Although, this is the season of gratitude after all, so this week I wanted to talk about some of the things I feel grateful for. And this year, I am grateful for so many things.

• First and foremost, I am thankful to be a part of a family who celebrates each other and cheers one another on. From my husband, to my mom and sister, to family even extended on both my husband and my sides, not everyone can say that they have so many people in their corner who are always cheering for them.
• I also want to recognize gratitude for my husband in particular. As we both challenge and overcome some mental health difficulties, I want to recognize how patient and encouraging he has been, as well as how determined he is to better himself. I am grateful to him and our relationship always.
• Following this, I am grateful for a roof over my head and for food on the table. This seems basic, like a normal thing to be grateful for, but as I have been reflecting on my past this has not been the case for every person out there. I have encountered so many who can’t be thankful for this.
• I am also grateful for a desire to grow and challenge myself. This one is a little more personal, as it hasn’t always been the case that I’ve challenged myself to constantly want to be growing. I feel grateful for the motivation to always be trying to better myself.
• A gratitude that I feel is overlooked is consistency. I like change, but with too much of it I become overwhelmed. I have found a lot of consistency in my life this year, from relationships, to experiences, to all the little things in between. I have found a lot of constants, and that is not something I could always say. I am grateful for the routine I’ve developed and a chance to feel grounded in my world.
• I am also grateful for things. It feels a little materialistic to say that, although I think it’s too easy to just gloss over not wanting things in an effort to “be better” or whatever it may be. But I know I like things and I am sure so many of you do. I like having the things I need to have my basic needs met, but even further I just like having things that I want. And I am grateful for a new perspective on gratitude around material possessions, as well as having the means to be able to obtain both what I want and need.
• I also feel grateful for a renewed interest in things I lost, such as reading and exercising. This year I wanted to better myself in so many regards, and while some are slower coming than others I have found ways to reignite the passion I used to have for so many things.
• Lastly, I feel grateful for theatre. After going to Chicago last month, I felt revitalized to be able to throw myself back into the arts. I am grateful for my training and talent, and for the passion I have for the arts. I am also grateful for opportunity to be involved in them out of school.

This is by no means an extensive list, as there are always so many things to feel grateful and thankful for. But this year, these are the things on my heart.

What are you grateful this season?