Thankful Holidays

The actual holiday of Thanksgiving may be towards the end of the month, but the whole month of November is a time to give thanks. Give thanks to your friends and family, to your pets, a time to be thankful for good health and good fortune. If you’re a little down on your luck, it’s a time to be thankful for what you do have, instead of dwelling on things you don’t have. However in reality, you really should be thankful all year round, not just in the month of November and December. Here’s my list of things I’m thankful for this year, and hopefully yours is very similar.
I’m thankful for my family. Family does a lot for you, whether you see it or not. It may not always be in the physical sense but in the mental mind set of life too. They are there for you during the tough times by holding your hand through it all and helping you understand why things happened the way they did, even when they can’t be explained. Your family is there for support, even when they’re the problem. Yes, I know families fight and can be dysfunctional. At the end of the day though, they’re family and will love you no matter what.
I’m thankful for good health. If you know me personally, then you know that I have a lot of health issues. So for me to say I’m thankful for good health might be a little strange. If this situation is similar to your life, take a good look at these past couple of months. If your life is full of doctor appointments and medical bills like mine, try looking at the bright side of things. Your health issues could be much worse than they really are. If you’re drowning in medical bills as if there’s no tomorrow, just think of what it’s like for families with a child with cancer. If you or someone in your family has cancer or an incurable disease, just think of what it would be like without them entirely. Your current situation could always be much worse than it really is so always be thankful for the fact that it’s not worse.
I’m thankful for my friends. A girl’s best friend is basically like family. They consult them before making a big life changing decision, they go to their friends for advice on just about everything. No girl should have to go through life without a best friend, or even multiple best friends. Some people need to realize that friends are precious. You could wake up one morning and find out that they’re not there anymore; therefore you shouldn't take them for granted. Be thankful they’re in your life and don’t be afraid to tell them that.
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Once in a Blue Mooncake

Many ladies, both teenagers and grown women, worry about their weight. Girls are beautiful no matter the shape or size and they shouldn't have to starve themselves for society to accept them, but it's a bad thing by any means for women to watch what they eat. You shouldn't eat junk food for every meal. Plus, what you consider junk food and what health experts consider junk food may be two completely different things. Having a cookie or a cupcake every now and then isn't such a bad thing, as long as it’s in moderation.  

Being conscious of what you let enter your body is different from counting how many calories you eat at every meal and making sure you don't exceed a certain amount. Girls who are obsessed with their weight do the counting while girls who don't want to end up being obese do the thinking about food quality. It's understandable to watch and monitor your weight so you don't become obese; however if you find yourself constantly enduring the pressure of a weight scale, then it's become more than just watching your weight. It's become a real problem that you should really consider reevaluating.  

If you've never given much thought to what kind of food you're eating, there's no better time to start than the present. Think about what foods you have eaten within the past three or four meals. If most of it is processed foods or foods that consist of all carbs, then you might want to think about what you're doing to your body. You may think that by eating a cracker instead or an Oreo, you're choosing the healthy option. Yes crackers are healthier than Oreos, but they both consist of all carbs. Processed foods are very similar. Even though some processed foods are not that bad for your body, you shouldn't overload your system with foods that are not natural. Instead try fresh produce like carrots or celery. If you have the available space, try growing a garden even. I know you can't grow a garden in the dead of winter in most places, but your local grocery store has fresh produce all year round.  

Everyone has a weakness when it comes to junk food. Whether it be Scratch Cupcakes, cheesecake or even homemade apple pie. It's ok to enjoy your favorite sweet every so often. Just make sure it's in moderation. Not every day or even every other day. Try going a week or two without sugary treats. If you combine this type of diet with a little exercise every day, you should hopefully see a noticeable difference. 

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