Lucky
There are a lot of things I have to be thankful for. I suppose I never realized just how lucky I was until I started taking public transit all the time and having many hours a week to just think when I probably should have been studying.
What makes me so fortunate? The better question is, where do I start?!
This might be a good place to begin--I'm sitting at a computer that I own, it works, it's relatively new, I did not personally pay for it and I'm using pretty hi-speed internet and all that jazz. I have the freedom to sit here and write what I want even though it's after 2:30AM and I'm a girl. I have a driver's license, a birth certificate, a roof over my head (that even has air conditioning, working toilets, running water, electricity and other such marvels and luxuries), comfortable clothes, health insurance, a source of income, a bank account, a place to sleep and a phone on which I've set an alarm to wake me up tomorrow morning.
I can say, with reasonable certainty, that I will be waking up tomorrow morning.
My family is fortunate that we sometimes have to throw out a bad fruit or a couple of slices of stale bread because it means we have more than enough food on the table. We're fortunate that we have two cars and the liberty to go where we please when we please. We are fortunate that we are all together, that we do not live in fear for our lives or our safety, and that we can go to sleep at night without worrying about where we will get our next meal tomorrow.
I am fortunate that my family loves me, that I can talk to my parents about any and everything and they will love me without judgment and without condition. I am fortunate that my sister and I are extremely close and that we'd do absolutely anything for each other, and that we can tell each other anything without being afraid of what the other may say in response. I am fortunate that my grandmother lovingly cooks for us every day and always wants what's best for us all, and that my brother always makes the effort to make us laugh. I am fortunate that my family is rich in laughter and love and that we are happy despite our flaws.
Even though I hate going to the University of Toronto I'm extremely fortunate I can go and hate it. I am able to get a higher education because I live in a country that counts me as a person and an adult in the eyes of the law, and because my family can afford it. I can hate the public transit system's delays and minor setbacks every day because I am able to use it without having to cover my face and I can voice my opinions without any threat to myself from the government or others.
I have wonderful friends. I have friends that still always invite me to their get-togethers even when they know I can't make it, just so I know I'm still a part of them and they're thinking of me even when I can't be there. I have friends that have always stayed by me through the best of times and the worst of times, friends that I cried with and laughed with and did incredibly crazy, publicly-unacceptable yet immensely fun things with. I have friends that forgive me for my mistakes and accept me, imperfections and all. I have friends I'd do anything for that I know would do the same for me.
I also have someone very special who loves me as much as I love him. He's always there to pick me up when I'm feeling down and to help me get through the days that feel like they'll never end. He texts me good morning and good night and those short little messages make every day wonderful, no matter what happened between those two texts. He tells me I'm pretty when my mirror says I'm not, and makes sure I know he loves me when I'm not so certain about how much I love myself. He supports me even when I'm being ridiculous and listens to everything I have to say, silly and serious alike. He lets me be the drama queen I know I am and never makes me feel guilty about it even though he probably should. He reminds me to breathe when I'm biting off more than I can chew and sometimes he breathes for me when I'm too stubborn to heed his warnings in the first place. He encourages me to do my best and inspires me to be my best. He never hides the way he feels and I never have to guess what he's thinking. I could never truly be thankful enough for having him in my life because every passing second makes me realize I have so much more to be grateful for.
Whenever I think about how lucky I am on the bus/RT/subway, my thoughts always come back to him. I'm not sure what went right but whatever it was, I'm so happy it did.
If I had absolutely nothing else, I would be happy with my family, my friends, and him in my life.
What makes me so fortunate? The better question is, where do I start?!
This might be a good place to begin--I'm sitting at a computer that I own, it works, it's relatively new, I did not personally pay for it and I'm using pretty hi-speed internet and all that jazz. I have the freedom to sit here and write what I want even though it's after 2:30AM and I'm a girl. I have a driver's license, a birth certificate, a roof over my head (that even has air conditioning, working toilets, running water, electricity and other such marvels and luxuries), comfortable clothes, health insurance, a source of income, a bank account, a place to sleep and a phone on which I've set an alarm to wake me up tomorrow morning.
I can say, with reasonable certainty, that I will be waking up tomorrow morning.
My family is fortunate that we sometimes have to throw out a bad fruit or a couple of slices of stale bread because it means we have more than enough food on the table. We're fortunate that we have two cars and the liberty to go where we please when we please. We are fortunate that we are all together, that we do not live in fear for our lives or our safety, and that we can go to sleep at night without worrying about where we will get our next meal tomorrow.
I am fortunate that my family loves me, that I can talk to my parents about any and everything and they will love me without judgment and without condition. I am fortunate that my sister and I are extremely close and that we'd do absolutely anything for each other, and that we can tell each other anything without being afraid of what the other may say in response. I am fortunate that my grandmother lovingly cooks for us every day and always wants what's best for us all, and that my brother always makes the effort to make us laugh. I am fortunate that my family is rich in laughter and love and that we are happy despite our flaws.
Even though I hate going to the University of Toronto I'm extremely fortunate I can go and hate it. I am able to get a higher education because I live in a country that counts me as a person and an adult in the eyes of the law, and because my family can afford it. I can hate the public transit system's delays and minor setbacks every day because I am able to use it without having to cover my face and I can voice my opinions without any threat to myself from the government or others.
I have wonderful friends. I have friends that still always invite me to their get-togethers even when they know I can't make it, just so I know I'm still a part of them and they're thinking of me even when I can't be there. I have friends that have always stayed by me through the best of times and the worst of times, friends that I cried with and laughed with and did incredibly crazy, publicly-unacceptable yet immensely fun things with. I have friends that forgive me for my mistakes and accept me, imperfections and all. I have friends I'd do anything for that I know would do the same for me.
I also have someone very special who loves me as much as I love him. He's always there to pick me up when I'm feeling down and to help me get through the days that feel like they'll never end. He texts me good morning and good night and those short little messages make every day wonderful, no matter what happened between those two texts. He tells me I'm pretty when my mirror says I'm not, and makes sure I know he loves me when I'm not so certain about how much I love myself. He supports me even when I'm being ridiculous and listens to everything I have to say, silly and serious alike. He lets me be the drama queen I know I am and never makes me feel guilty about it even though he probably should. He reminds me to breathe when I'm biting off more than I can chew and sometimes he breathes for me when I'm too stubborn to heed his warnings in the first place. He encourages me to do my best and inspires me to be my best. He never hides the way he feels and I never have to guess what he's thinking. I could never truly be thankful enough for having him in my life because every passing second makes me realize I have so much more to be grateful for.
Whenever I think about how lucky I am on the bus/RT/subway, my thoughts always come back to him. I'm not sure what went right but whatever it was, I'm so happy it did.
If I had absolutely nothing else, I would be happy with my family, my friends, and him in my life.