Hi friend! How are
you? I hope you are well and starting to
get in the holiday spirit! I have to say
I’m not feeling particularly festive with three essays staring me in the
face. They’re due in the next four
weeks, so I need to get a move on….clearly.
Being away from home during the holiday season can really
put a damper on your mood as well. As
most of you know, the United States’ Thanksgiving holiday just passed on the 24th
of Nov. (last Thursday of the month).
It’s a day where you gather with family (which in my case means 20+
people) and friends and give thanks for the great blessings in your life. I have missed Thanksgivings before this, so
it should get easier right? Unfortunately,
I am vividly aware of the fact that I will not be going home for Christmas
either, so I think that exacerbates the loss of this holiday time. In the spirit of the season, however, I
thought it would be appropriate to make a list of 10 things I’m thankful
for this year to make sure I don’t overlook the true meaning of this holiday
despite being far from home.
1) I’m thankful for
my family. My brother (finally – just
kidding Neb) got the webcam hooked up for my parents and we were able to skype
before Thanksgiving. So that was the
first time I’d seen their faces since I left, and that was definitely something
to be thankful for. It gave me a good
laugh watching my dad shouting into the camera even though that was a) not
where the microphone was located, and b) Neb was still setting up
everything. Not helpful, Dad. On Thanksgiving I also got to skype with
family in California, who I lived with for a year before law school. I called my grandpa on Sunday after T-day
too, which caused me to salivate over the meal description and wish I could
visit him and my grandma. Everyone who
has a great support network like I’m fortunate to have, please remember to show
them your appreciation.
2) I’m thankful for
my friends. When you move around, it’s
funny how your life sort of becomes a series of acts in which different friends
become central characters. While others
may be supporting cast at different junctures in your life, that doesn’t mean
they are less important or praiseworthy.
My childhood friends from back in Eagle Grove: those people in your life who you might not
see more than once a year, but you’ve got such an extensive history,
background, acquaintances, understanding of each other, and similar set of
developmental experiences that you feel instantly comfortable with each other
and like you’ve never been apart. They’ve
seen me at my best, at my worst, they know how I tick, and vice versa – they make
me strive to be a better person and for that I am so thankful. My friends from Teach For America: those people with whom you’ve gone through an
extremely intense, emotional, stressful experience for a short period of
time. It’s a lifetime bond that you’ll
always share. A common understanding of
a situation that is really hard to explain in totality to others. I’m so thankful for their brains, dedication,
continued passion to achieve even if not in the teaching field, and for all the
things I continue to learn from them. My
California friends: those people who
teach you so much about yourself through their help and guidance. I am so thankful to have experienced firsthand
their unbelievable generosity and wisdom. Their example makes me realize how I want to
live my life in relation to the other six billion people in the world. My law school friends: those people with whom you share a season of
personal growth, a particular body of knowledge, and a common challenge that
having lived through it, you’ve jointly earned your stripes. Even though we have all headed different
directions, not just in terms of location but career paths within the legal
field, I am so thankful for their unwavering support of my professional and
personal development. Their sense of
humor kept me going during some incredibly bleak moments and still brings me
joy an ocean away.
3) I’m thankful for great food, good wine, and dessert.
4) I’m thankful for
my car back in the States. Most of the
time I don’t miss having a car; I feel better for how much I’m walking. But there are times when you just want to get
behind the wheel and direct your time.
Be the master of when you arrive rather than rely on timetables and be
cramped next to someone you don’t know who may or may not adhere to the same
level of body odor avoidance as you do.
5) I’m thankful for
Sony noise cancelling headphones. They
allow you to block out unnecessarily loud and annoying conversations going on
next to you when you are trying to get work done, whether in a coffee shop,
train, or even a library (gasp!).
6) I’m thankful for
rainproof jackets. The genius of those
who invented such material is unparalleled and does not go unappreciated by
this constant forgetter of the umbrella.
7) I’m thankful for beautiful
sunshine. It makes me so happy to see
blue sky even when I know it’s freezing outside. If only I could transfer that sunshine and myself onto
a beach somewhere, I’d be even more thankful.
8) I’m thankful for
the constant generosity and welcoming spirit I’m shown over here by
Europeans. Inviting me for holidays,
making sure I have places to stay, food to eat, and showing genuine concern for
my future. They don’t have to do any of
that, and for all the times I’ve been reminded of the different ways we look at
things or our cultural differences, the more I realize we are pretty much the
same and in this life together. Cross-cultural
understandings are to be had with a little curiosity and open-mindedness.
9) I’m thankful for adequate
health care. I’m sneezing and coughing
up a storm over here, which should remind me every time that I am so privileged
to be able to take medicine and have my ailments cured. Some are not so fortunate.
10) I’m thankful for
all of you. People who care enough about
me to check in and make sure I’m still alive and kicking over here in
Scotland. I’m sure my drivel is
sometimes not that interesting, but thank you for taking a few minutes out of
your day to read my thoughts and show your support for me.
I wish you the very best during this holiday season, and I
will write again soon. Take care of you.
Cheers, Beth
