With Thanksgiving around the corner, I wanted to take some time to reflect on what I’m most thankful for at this juncture of my life. If you’re a regular to my blog, you’re probably realizing that I LOVE to reflect! I find that I grow when I look at life experiences as learning opportunities. I’m looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my entire family this year. It’s been a while since we’ve had extended family over for Thanksgiving AND my sister and brother-in-law will be with us!
WHO AM I THANKFUL FOR?
Over the past couple of years, I have truly learned the importance of fostering relationships with family and friends. Though it can be hard to keep in touch in the digital era, I’ve gotten a lot better at it (check out this post from the archives). I’d have to say that being single for the majority of the past couple of years has played a large part in me growing stronger friendships and relationships with family members.
So this Thanksgiving, I am incredibly thankful for the friends I’ve had since middle school, the friends I gained in college, and the friends I’ve made throughout my time in graduate school. I am thankful that as I grow further in my adulthood, my relationship with my parents continues to blossom. My relationship with my grandmother is growing. I’m getting closer to my siblings. None of this is accidental. I put in my best effort to invest time in connecting with those who matter to me. After all, one of my life mottos is “you make time for the things you care about.” Family and friends definitely are at the top of the list.
WHAT AM I THANKFUL FOR?
I am incredibly thankful for the woman I am becoming. I feel that with every day, I get closer to being the person that I want to be – the person that God wants me to be. Ever since I was little I knew that my impact on this world would be in the medical field. In the most cliche way, I wanted to help people. With every passing day, I feel better positioned to do that. Whether it’s through this blog, White Coats Black Blazers, or my future career as a Psychiatrist, my life is all about helping others! That alone gives me so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
WHY AM I THANKFUL?
“When I look back over my life, and I think things over, I can TRULY say that I’ve been blessed! I have a T E S T I M O N Y!”
The above words are lyrics in one of my favorite songs. I love this song because it’s so true! There have been so many different trials and challenges in my life, BUT GOD has been there every step of the way. For that, I am oh so thankful!
I see myself as the island girl from tiny Barbados, who made it to Harvard and now Penn Med and Wharton. Those academic achievements alone are enough to shout and give God praise for!
At Thanksgiving brunch and dinner this year, I look forward to the tradition of everyone stating what they are thankful for this year. In this season of gratitude, I’m glad to be in a place where I’m thankful for the people in my life, thankful for the direction that my life is going, and thankful that God is always there.
Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving! Hope that you take some time to rest these holidays 🙂
Atasha Jordan, MD (to be)
