Ten Things I Am Thankful For in 2020

2020 has been a crazy year, and a lot of people don't get to spend Thanksgiving with loved ones, but there is still so much to be thankful for. Here are ten things I am so thankful for this year.

This year sure has been a crazy one.. A lot of people are chalking it up as a loss and say they are just ready for 2021. Yes, lots of things for me changed and not everything went my way. But I am grateful and thankful for many things in 2020. With as much negative talk that has occurred due to the coronavirus and the anxiety this has caused many of us, I would love to reflect on some things I am so very thankful for this year.

1. My Boyfriend

I honestly don't know what my year would have looked like without by boyfriend. 2020 would have definitely taken more of a toll on me if it wasn't for him. When I first moved to Minnesota, I lived on my own, and I enjoyed it at the time, but I think it would have been so so lonely if I was living by myself this year. I am also so thankful for the bond we have built working from home together. So many people have asked me "don't you get sick of being around them all day?". And my answer is honestly and sincerely no. I love every minute I get to spend with Vince, and I think we have gotten so close of these months at home. I wouldn't trade the time for anything.

2. My Family

Family has always been the most important thing, and this is even more true now. With so many things being cancelled, one thing that is always there for you is family. The virus has caused my family and I to be a lot more cautious and safe, but we have found ways to smartly see each other. We had many Zoom calls/games during quarantine, as well as socially distant lunches. I have valued this time with them so much. 2020 made me realize to not take things for granted, and I cherish every minute I get to spend with my loved ones. One thing I CANNOT wait for is to hug my parents again. I miss it so much..

3. My Health And The Healthy Of My Loved Ones

I am so unbelievably thankful for my health and my loved ones health. This topic has really put a lot of stress on me over the past nine months, and I am getting a little better, but I will always worry about the health of the people around me. I worry sometimes about me, but it is more about my people, even now writing this, I am getting some stressed built up in my chest. Every day I pray that everyone in my family stays safe and healthy. I really appreciate how seriously my family has taken everything, making the right decisions, and taking the right precautions. I love my family so very much, and I want them to be around for as long as possible.

4. Healthcare Workers

Although no one in my family has needed any help from healthcare workers I am so so thankful for them. They are heroes. I have gained so much more of an appreciation for healthcare workers in 2020. I can't believe so many people are so willing to help others at any cost, even at the cost of some of their own lives or being able to see their families for weeks or months. They selflessly help strangers and continue to do it each day. Doctors, nurses, EMTs, technicians, pharmacists, all of you, THANK YOU.

5. My Blog and My Followers

I started by blog in February of this year (more on the why's in another blog!), and this was such a unique time to start a travel blog. I know many people started a travel blog during quarantine for something to do, but I started mine not knowing what was ahead. It was a hard time to start a blog, but the time has allowed be to grow it and have time to focus on it! I am thankful for my blog for keeping me busy and helping me make something to look back on all my travels. I am also so thankful for everyone who has supported my blog, as well as the friends I have made on Instagram. It is so crazy how good of friendships I have made with people from all over the world. I honestly see these people as my friends and hope to meet up with some of them someday! I also am thankful for how supportive all my followers are. There are funny memes about how supportive these people are, and its so true. There is so much positivity, and it is what I needed in my life. I am so thankful.

6. My Stable Job

I am thankful for not having to worry one minute about if I was going to keep my job or not. I started my job in December, and I could have been one of the first people to leave if my company decided to make layoffs since I was so new. However, since the beginning, my company has made sure to let us know that we are not going anywhere. The unemployment rate in the U.S. was at almost 15% this year, and not having to worry at all is just so special.

7. My Beautiful Apartment

This year Vince and I moved into our apartment in Minneapolis. I am just so simply happy for a roof over my head. I could talk all about living downtown, the views of US Bank Stadium, or having a balcony, but what I am most grateful is for having a place to live and feel safe. I see people everyday on my walks who are homeless, and I think about them every single time it rains or snows, and my heart just breaks for them. I am grateful for these perspectives in 2020 to help make a change.

8. The Beautiful Outdoors

I am used to doing a lot of things indoors; going to sporting events, out to dinner, etc. However, being able to explore the outdoors during this time was so fun to do. We were able to go to things we probably would have never done and I loved every minute of it! I gain so much more appreciation for the beauty of Minneapolis and for mother nature all together. It has showed me that I should explore more local, and plan to do this for years to come!

9. My Freedom And Right To Vote

2020 was a year that will never be forgotten for many things, and the U.S. presidential election is one of those things. I got frustrated over the countless texts I received from each party and all the commercials I saw, but reflecting back, I am thankful for this right. 1920. This was the year women were able to vote in the U.S. I am thankful for the people who fought for this right for women like me. No matter what side you are on, seeing about 160 million people vote is just so incredible. I am thankful to have a voice.

10. My Mistakes And Failures

In 2020 I passed my last CPA exam. You can find my blog post about my journey to FINALLY passing my exams here. It really was a struggle for me, and I had a lot of failures. However, even after all this, I am so thankful for these failures. It taught me so much about myself, and I was able to see how much I can really do. I learned how much I am capable of, and I have been able to put that into other things I do. There are so many mistakes we make in our lives, and I think these are the moments that shape your life. Instead of feeling bad or being embarrassed, I am thankful for these opportunities to grow.

I am sure for so many people Thanksgiving looks a little different this year. Even if you are celebrating in person, you might have things in place to make sure everyone stays safe. At the end of the day, remember the things in your life that you are thankful for. In a crazy year like this one, it is even more important to keep remembering these things. I have a really wonderful life, and am thankful for so much.