1. My loved ones
The crazy combination of emojis I’ve saved beside your name in my phone pops up, and I instantly smile. It’s a Facetime call, and when I answer, your face lights up my entire screen. We talk for hours and say goodbye about five times before one of us hangs up or our phones die. My friends and family continually support me and all of my endeavors to the fullest. They value what I have to offer and acknowledge my importance in their lives. We make a noticeable impact on one another and foster a relationship centered around growth and understanding.
2. Being an able-bodied and happy person
Sprinting breathlessly down the soccer field, I swiftly dribbled the ball, cutting across the field and sliding past opponents. As a team player, I always find the next wide open pass and create new openings to support our play. Although I’ve left my days as a defensive midfielder behind, I remember the rush of adrenaline every time my foot makes contact with a ball.
I often reminisce on the weekend-long tournaments I dreaded at times because of the birthday party or hangouts with friends that I would have to miss. Looking back, I am thankful for every opportunity I had to play the beautiful game. I can look ahead with joy knowing that I may now pick up a game with friends anytime—all I need is a soccer ball and a wide open field.
3. The little things
With your fingers running through my hair and the breeze hitting the back of my neck, the sun fades to the perfect ambience in the afternoon of a nice autumn day. I take a bite of my raspberry tart pastry and think—what could be more perfect than this? A trickling laugh may reverberate from within and echo outward from a joke that tickled me just the right way, causing a contagious spiral of laughter to circle between us. My avocado might reveal the perfectly ripe shade of green for guac. A hug may rush down my spine and ignite feelings of deep passion for our connection. A handmade gift may remind me of a miniscule detail you picked up from a story I shared a while ago. Love is concealed within the finer details of our days.
4. Serendipitous encounters and connections
I experience a connectivity within many of my relationships that defies material aspects such as distance and time. The concept of platonic love and the deep feeling of belonging in the presence of another person strike me deeply. Strolling up late to the meeting, I lock eyes with the one who I knew would become my best friend. We mingle in the bathroom line at the party the following weekend and strike a lifelong bond. Such an off chance that we would end up in the same place at the same time, with the openness and willingness to foster a connection, but we did.
Good timing connects people. Serendipity presents itself through the form of a song that communicates my innermost feelings. I write a letter to my platonic soulmate as “New Year,” by Beach House plays, supporting my choice to express myself “in my own way.” I hop onto my driveway of speckled rocks and spot the earring I thought I had lost forever face down in the gravel. I am constantly reminded that moments of imperfection are beautiful for the serendipity inherent in their very occurrence. There wouldn’t have been an earring to find if I hadn’t lost one in the first place.
5. Senses
I love running my hands through the cold flow of water from the creek. My fingers brush against the fuzzy moss growing atop a rock. I’m happy seeing the glint of little water droplets stuck onto the spider web above me in the tree. They are beautiful, and even more beautiful, my ability to experience the elements of this world in this manner. Every time I give myself the space to breathe and reflect in an outdoor space, I absorb the essence of life all around me.
I am grateful for the earth that bears us wonderful growth. I prepare dinners for myself, piece outfits together, and make memories with friends, creating my own beautiful world. I plant flowers in my garden and water them daily with gratitude. I give thanks, share compliments, and show up for those around me who I love. If there is an idea that pops into my mind, I have the ability to make it a reality.
6. Change
Although change can be scary, I am grateful for all the leaps and dives throughout my character development and growth. I can look back at the elementary schooler who always wore a flower clip in her hair and be grateful for the artful creative expression that’s always been a part of my identity. I have since grown into a greater sense of my identity and being.
Everyone serves a purpose in my life. Those who remain for a season, whether it be for a couple weeks, months or years, hold their place. I’ve made friends at the University who I don’t interact with anymore besides sharing a nice “hello” in passing, or liking each other's Instagram posts. The connection has still made an impact on my overall growth as a person, and I can still look back and relish moments, like the many laughs we’ve shared. I learn more about what it means to be myself every single day, and I will continue to be grateful for the change I am inevitably bound to make in this world.
