We’re about a third of the way through 2021, and even though we’ve finally gotten a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel because of the vaccine, we’re still stuck in this quarantine limbo. Thus, today I’ll be doing a sequel to my Thanksgiving gratitudes post from last year by listing some of my recent silver linings. Same as before, some of these silver linings are more serious, and others are a bit silly. Of course, there are definitely more (you can check out the original post for 50 more), but there are just 50 that came to mind! I love you all, and I hope you enjoy this post!
1. Basic necessities: a roof over my head, food on the table, clean water, etc.
2. Basic rights and freedoms, so we can live our lives and express our voices
3. My family, for loving me unconditionally and giving me the opportunities to try anything and everything
4. My friends (including the new ones I’ve made through TikTok -- I love you all), for supporting me and making me laugh like no one else
5. The COVID vaccine, so we can approach normalcy again
6. Spring break, for allowing me a week to recharge
7. TikTok, for providing me a place to talk about books, presenting me with some really cool opportunities, educating me, helping me realize the importance of my voice, and making me laugh 8. NetGalley, for allowing me to read advance copies of amazing books
9. My favorite authors (Marie Lu, Sabaa Tahir, Hafsah Faizal, Casey McQuiston, and Chloe Gong, to name a few), for transporting me another world, at least for a little bit
10. Warm and sunny weather, for bringing me serotonin and allowing me to run Outside
11. Goodreads, for being much more fun to use than I initially anticipated
12. Notion and Apple Calendar, for making me look a lot more put-together
13. E-books, for being so convenient (and cheap)
14. Blue light glasses, for protecting my eyes (at least… I hope they’re doing something)
15. Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift, for blessing my ears with amazing music
16. A healthy, able body, for supporting me
17. My five senses, for letting me take in the entirety of the world
18. June Iparis, for helping me realize things about myself I never knew were true
19. Good hair days, because they are few and far between
20. Snow days, for being a pleasant surprise and giving me a chance to relax
21. Surprise FaceTime calls, for giving me a chance to talk to my favorite people
22. The right to vote when we turn 18, because that’s not something every person has
23. Green grapes, for being unequivocally superior to red grapes
24. The Internet, for expanding my opportunities endlessly and allowing me to connect with people halfway across the world
25. Miraculous Ladybug, for giving me comfort and a lighthearted way to relax
26. Helene Aquilla, because I love you beyond words and you deserve the absolute world, even if the world isn’t ready to give that to you
27. Forgiveness, because where would I be without it?
28. Influencers who use their platforms for good (one that immediately comes to mind is Amelie Zilber), for using their privilege to positively impact their community
29. Laughter, because it brightens up any day
30. Free WiFi, because my cellular data plan is only so large
31. Chocolate-chip cookies, for tasting so damn good
32. A comfortable bed, for allowing me to have a good night’s sleep
33. Libraries (and used book stores), for allowing us to read books without breaking the bank
34. Air conditioning and heating, because otherwise I would be a puddle in July and a } popsicle in December
35. Words of encouragement, for uplifting me and helping me persevere
36. Sock curls, because I do not have the budget to purchase a curling iron
37. Brita water filters, for improving our access to clean water
38. Bad days, for making me appreciate the good ones so much more
39. Pasta, for being a comfort meal
40. Sleeping in, because sleep is so precious
41. Solitude, because we all need some time to breathe every once in a while
42. Late night bursts of productivity, for just being there
43. Cheerios, for being my go-to snack for the last 13 months
44. Discounts, for making me a little more comfortable spending money
45. Fuzzy blankets, for providing endless comfort
46. Emojis, for making my text messages seem less dry
47. Romance novels, for simultaneously making me feel less lonely and forever alone
48. Everyone that’s ever taken a chance on me -- thank you
49. All of you, for reading this and showing me that my voice is worth listening to
50. Life. Always.
Komen