Cliche but Okay Thanksgiving Post

Happy Thanksgiving! -its a day late because I decided to start the post on thanksgiving and end it the day after.

So I realize that everybody and their brother, sister, mother, and friend are posting about what they are thankful for. Tis the season to be thankful, jolly, and pleasant! Not that we shouldn't be like that every day in every way but this is the season that we make sure we have expressed how thankful and happy we are. There is really nothing wrong with that. Just because someone posts about how great everything is going and how much they appreciate their loved ones around the holidays doesn't mean that they aren't just as appreciative year round. Anyways, I'm going to talk a little bit about what I am thankful for focusing mostly on what has changed since I've began recovery and why is this Thanksgiving different than years past.

The things I'm thankful for are not going in any specific order.

1. I'm thankful for my psych and nutrition counselors who have talked me out of my old self hating ways. Without their help I'm sure It would've taken me a lot longer to be where I'm at today. I don't want to say that they did all the work but without them it would've been near impossible.

2. Snowballing off of #1, I'm thankful for my own mind. I'm thankful that I had the determination, gusto, willpower, courage, audacity, and everything else that it took for me to give up my ED. If you haven't had an ED you might not realize what a security blanket it is. At sometimes it even feels like your ED keeps you safe. I'm glad I had what it takes to take a risk. That leap of faith that I took will forever benefit me because at the end of each day I realize that I've already accomplished something that I believed to be impossible.

3. My friends. Especially my college friends. The ones I see almost everyday for 9 months out of the year. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for everyone of my buds but these friends in particular influence me hardcore. I can be so honest with these people. They know every bright and dark thought that passes through my head. I don't need to filter myself when I'm around them. In fact, they think it's weird if I'm filtering in the slightest. I tell them when I'm love sick. home sick, plain sick, sick and tired of something, or even sick of something I love. They support me. They care about me. Not a day goes by when I don't feel welcome. My roommate katy especially makes my head spin. Everyday I wonder how someone got to be as spectacular as her. She is the most accepting soul I've met. She makes me feel unconditionally loved (we all know how important that is). She tells me everyday how proud of me she is. I couldn't ask for a better person to hang out with everyday. Just love.

4. I'm thankful for the people who smile at me as I walk by. You know, the cheerful people. The ones who appear to be carefree even though we know that's impossible. I'm thankful for the ones who are outgoing enough to put themselves out there even if it is only a smile, wave, or head nod as I walk by. Every time I pass a wonderful person like this I'm thankful because I know their smiles are contagious and the happiness will spread like wildfire. To all you smilers out there, just know that you matter.

5. My family who is helping me go to CSU. Without CSU I don't think I would've gotten the recovery jumpstart that I needed. My family helps me both financially and emotionally. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that their is small army rooting for me at all times. It't not the money that I'm focusing on with this thank you. It's the belief in me that they all posses. It's the acceptance that I will do what I want to do and the only two options you have is to accept it or walk. I appreciate everything about your thought processes, encouragement, and sometimes criticism.

6. We all knew it was coming.. CROSSFIT! Crossfit shows me every single day that to perform and I mean truly perform you need to fuel your body correctly. You need to eat what your body craves and not so much what your mind craves. If I don't refuel after a workout I know I wont be performing at my best the next day or even the next workout. I've learned that fuel, rest, and recuperation are huge components of fitness. Without Crossfit shredding my muscles It probably would've taken me a lot longer to figure that out.

7. The Crossfit Community. SO. MUCH. LOVE. I've now been a member of 2 different boxes. Both boxes have excellent communities anchored to them. The people are so helpful and encouraging. It's the only sport I've been a part of where the coaches care more about you than they do your performance. The members of theses boxes have invited me over for meals, driven me to competitions and to classes, and invited me to be a part of their special training programs. A huge number of people i've met through crossfit have taken me under their wing in some form or another. I love you guys and am so glad I found my fitness family.

8. Im grateful that this year I've learned to have an open mind. People have taught me that just because you thought something at one point doesn't mean that stays true forever. I've learned that our personalities, values, traits, sexuality, and everything else is changing constantly. I've learned that if someone doesn't accept you for who you are they have no business being a part of your life. I've become more true and accepting of myself. I've learned not to dismiss something just because its out of the ordinary. I've learned that abnormal is fairly normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

9. In case you weren't catching the hints I was throwing your way in #8, I'm thankful that I'm openminded enough to be gay. I'm glad I don't have to limit myself to just boys or just girls just men or just women. I'm glad I met a girl so cool that it didn't matter that she was a girl. It's cool that I can see someone for their inner beauty and not for their genitalia. It's cool that even though I'm half way terrified to post this that I will have the strength to post it anyways.

I'm thankful for so much. Thanks for reading. Hopefully you're thankful too!

Have a wonderful day.