Thanksgiving.

This year has been one of the hardest that I have ever experienced. I have moved away from my home in Carlisle, I left some of the most amazing people in the world at Lycoming and I have been struggling in Indiana until recently. I have never questioned any serious decision that I have made until this semester, and I have never been so close to just packing up and leaving. Slowly I am learning that I belong in the psychological field and I am finding my passions. So even though things have been fairly lonely and painful I have so much to be thankful for this year. The wonderful thing about being in a new place alone is, you get to know who really cares. I have called my sister countless times bawling my eyes out and she would stop whatever she is doing just to listen to me. One of my favorite parts of this time of year is the fact that we can all take a pause and be thankful for our crazy, busy, stressful and hectic lives. We have a day to just pause, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. We realize (if we are students) that we have to work full time and go to school because we want to follow our passions, or at least get a job that would be better than if we did not go to school. We realize that even in our busy lives there are still people willing to listen to us, love us, and spend time with us. We realize that even though we fight with our families sometimes, for the most part, there is always someone there to support us when we need it the most. Now I know that this doesn't account for everyone, and I am learning more and more the more I work at the Guidance Center, that some people aren't so lucky. Even though I have seen people at their worst I tell them at least they are taking a step in the right direction. So even if you feel that you have nothing to be thankful for, I hope that these people will at least be thankful for the fact that most of them have an opportunity to take a step in the right direction. Hopefully some of us can look back on our most painful experiences and realize the lessons that we have learned, or at least be thankful that we are not currently experiencing those events. It is in our nature as humans to take the next best road, and we should be thankful for that. So as cliche as it is, I feel it is necessary to write out a list of things that I am personally thankful for:

My family: I know. VERY cliche, but I know that they will always be there for me. My mother and sister especially. I know if I ever need to call someone they are the first on my list. My mother always knows what to say and my sister will always back me up and never make me feel that I am stupid for feeling the way that I feel. The older that I get, the more I realize how lucky I am to be born into a family full of such wonderful people. I hardly ever fight with any of them and I respect their morals and views. They also have let me be my own person. I was encouraged to find my own views (but I agree with them usually haha).

My apartment: Yes even though it is in Indiana Pennsylvania and costing me and arm and a leg every month, I truly am enjoying living here. I have been so independent and I am loving it! I love coming home to my place, lighting my favorite candle, cooking whatever I want, watching whatever I want on TV or playing whatever music I want and not having to worry about anyone else other then myself. (Selfish much? Haha). I can also decorate it any way that I would like (even though I can't really afford to right now...). My bed is amazing. I have a 4 inch thick memory foam/fiber pad that I am thankful to sleep on every night. I have all the furniture that I need and I am very comfortable in my apartment.

My friends: Old and new. Suz especially has been amazing this year :). She really is my best friend! We have been on many adventures together this year and I cannot wait for more :)! I have met many amazing new people. It takes a certain kind of person to be a counselor, and I have met so many compassionate and caring people and I am loving it. As for my Lyco friends, I miss them so much sometimes. I miss the connection and closeness that we shared, and I hope to keep in contact with the people that matter to me the most. I also am so thankful for the friends that I have at home. I absolutely love Erin and Ashley and Suzie. Suzie and Ashley kept me sane for the months that I have worked at Members 1st and Erin has been so good to me for years :)

My kitties: I almost resented my cats for awhile, because I thought I was going to be the crazy cat lady (well, ok I am.) But I felt for awhile that was all I could talk about, because I did not have my job for awhile and I had nothing to do but just hang out in my apartments with my cats. I do realize that I love them very much and they have brought joy to my life (and agony sometimes... For instance, I came home today and someone ATE MY NEW IPHONE HEADPHONES!  >:( ) but they are so entertaining and loving. Well Amos is loving. Andy will sometimes show me love but usually I am concerned if she only pretends to like me because I feed her. Still she will visit me in my bed and make me feel loved on very rare occasions. The fact that they bring joy to my life makes me very thankful for the both of them.

My education: Even though as a counselor, I am understanding that I will never make any money, I LOVE learning about counseling and learning about myself, because with counseling you really have to figure yourself out too. I find it so interesting and the more I spend time with clients as an intake specialist, the more I wish to be on the other side, helping them through their issues, instead of helping them on their next step in treatment. I do not think I can be a counselor forever, but I learned about Happenstance theory in one of my counseling classes and I found great comfort in it. Happenstance theory means that we shouldn't plan for a career for the rest of our lives, but just keep taking the next best path and never stop looking for something better. This made me feel so much better about everything! I am so grateful for my time at Lycoming as well. I feel very well prepared for graduate studies and I value what I have learned at Lycoming everyday at my job. I am so happy to be where I am at, even though the fact that I will be poor is always lurking in the back of my head. I am looking into other programs as well... So maybe I will not do counseling and switch to Public Health. We will see! I am thankful that I have these options :).

My iPhone and iPods: as stupid as this sounds I LOVE MY IPHONE!! Haha! I use it for pretty much everything and it makes me so happy. I also am so grateful that I have an easy, efficient way to organize what is most important to me: MY MUSIC, all in one area :).

My job: Even though I have been very discouraged for a few weeks I am learning so much, and I have been meeting some really interesting people. Everyday I get to hear another story that makes me feel so grateful to have my own life. It is rewarding to see someone who was not smiling when they came in, smile for a little bit when they are with me. I try to keep things light and I try to make them happier than when they came in. Sometimes this is not easy or impossible, but when it happens it is wonderful! I also love that I can sneak some counseling skills in and see them in action. I do realize that my job is not to counsel people, but this opportunity is so wonderful to at least try a few. I also make about a bazillion mistakes a day, but it is good to know that people can trust me with difficult tasks, such as learning how to use the Credible program. I also am so thankful for the doors that this job will open for me in the future.

My gifts: I am in no way a talented musician,  but I love to teach people how to play music :). I would say this is a gift. I also am becoming an excellent cook! I love to find new recipes and try different foods. I also have an ability to listen to people very intently. This is a great gift to have as a counselor. I am also learning to trust my gut.


There are many more things that I am thankful for, but of course I should really start working on my homework. Thank you and please sit back and think about how wonderful your life is, for AT LEAST tomorrow :)


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

And I am thankful that you read my blog post ;)