Not-so-common things to be grateful for

Thanksgiving week. The time people publicly announce for what they're thankful. I've never participated in the Facebook frenzy of posting something to be grateful for every day in November, but I see a common trend: family, faith, children, talents, health, etc. It is true that these are the things to be most grateful for, and I for one am not an exception. My religion, my husband, and my family certainly round out the top three. But when I was a teenager, my mom had us do an activity where we had to list out 100 specific things/people/places/talents we're thankful to have, and it opened my eyes to how many life luxuries I'm surrounded with. I've done this exercise a few times since, and I thought I'd share ten of my not-so-common things to be grateful for.

1. CHAPSTICK - Seriously, words can't adequately convey how overwhelmingly grateful I am for this in my life. Some say using Chapstick is an addiction. Eh...maybe. But for someone with dry skin (and obviously dry lips), I'd be lost without it, especially after facing tropical-storm-like winds in Rexburg on an almost daily basis. At any given point I have access to at least three tubes of the stuff, and heaven forbid I leave it at home. Should that tragedy befall me, a stop at the nearest drug store will become a priority.

2. NETFLIX - More specifically, Psych. Remember the days when you had to go to Blockbuster/Hollywood Video/Movie Gallery, cross your fingers they had the VHS you wanted, and then rent it for 1, 2, or 5 days? Plus a damage fee? And then when DVDs came out, you were faced with an even greater dilemma. Is it worth the extra money to walk out with a disc instead of a VHS when it's still the same move? How lucky I am to press a few buttons and be presented with a myriad of choices! And Psych. Ah, Shawn and Gus. It's my go-to when I'm in need of a laugh. It doesn't matter if I've seen the episode or not. Shawn and Guster are always there for me.

3. LOTION - This item piggybacks Chapstick. There isn't much other explanation needed. Anyone with skin as ashy as mine can be understand.

4. HAIRDRYER - I am fortunate enough to have hair that can be dried in three minutes (yes, I've timed it) and it's ready to go. No need to straighten, though of course it doesn't hurt. Within minutes of getting out of the shower, I can be ready to go. This allows for extra sleep, a longer breakfast, or whatever else I feel like doing. It's magical, really.

5. GOOGLE - I'm only 26, but I still remember having to go to the library or a set of encyclopedias if I had question about something. You want to know the altitude of your state? You want to know the zip code of your great aunt? You want to win a bet about what else an actor or actress was in (thank you IMDB)? History, sports, music, math, science - Anything you can think of is just a search button away. Sure, not everything on the internet is legit, but there are still smart ways to search for whatever you're looking for. Having that much information at your fingertips is powerful, and while I enjoy the funny cat video as much as the next person, I still remember that because of modern technology, I hold the world in my pocket.

6. TENNIS SHOES - The hardest part of working out for me isn't the actual working out. It's actually lacing up my kicks, but once I do, I feel empowered. There's just something about putting on tennis shoes. Maybe it's because I only wear mine when I'm about to do something physically demanding, so my brain goes all Pavlov's dogs and thinks it's time to go sweat. Most of the time, that's the case. Also, my tennis shoes are incredibly comfortable, and who isn't grateful for comfort?

7. WORD - As an aspiring writer, this one should be obvious. I can type oodles faster than I can write, and can you even imagine a world without copy and paste? I'm sure I use that more in a day than I realize. 

8. PANDORA - I love that at any moment I can tune in to some genre of music or make a playlist that combines multiple genres of music. I love the variety, I love the diversity (and if you saw my Pandora lists, you'd find great diversity). Though the commercials grow tiresome, it's a small price to pay to have an instant music selection at my fingertips.

9. WII MARIO GAMES - The hubs and I have spent countless hours playing games together, and the common theme is Mario. Mario Kart, Super Mario Brothers (new and original), Mario 3D, and many more. I love playing with (and against) him. I attribute my love of Mario to my mom, who used to put playing Mario on our chore lists when we were kids, and my brothers, who always made me be Luigi but I was just happy to be playing with them. Years of happiness and excitement and family togetherness that is continuing on.

10. FACETIME/SKYPE - I can see my family at anytime, particularly my three little nieces. What else is there to say?

So, that's my list. There's plenty more luxuries I'm blessed to have in my life, and I have a feeling if I really look, I'll find even more. Simply put, life is good.