I have this friend. She’s a fitness writer; beautiful, talented, strong and a bit cheeky. She happens to be the person that hooked me up with my first writing gig several years ago, so regardless of her many positive attributes, she will always be the person who gave me a chance. Needless to say, when she speaks, I listen. A couple of years ago, about this time, she hopped on Facebook and presented a challenge: take a negative aspect of your body image and turn it into something you are grateful for. For example, “I am grateful for my legs. Even though they jiggle more than I would like, they take me to work and play every day.” It occurred to me that this theory could be applied to all aspects of our lives.

I am grateful for the hard parts of motherhood. Anyone who knows me, knows that my youngest can be a challenge. He doesn’t eat, he doesn’t listen and he didn’t sleep more than three hours at a time for the first two years of his life. Things are different now. With a lot of patience and help from professionals, we have made breakthroughs that changed his life. He (and his brother, of course!) drive me crazy in ways I didn’t know were possible. However, amid those sleepless nights and therapy sessions, I have discovered a capacity for patience and love that I didn’t realize I had.

I am grateful for my insecurities. I don’t always feel gorgeous or fit. I’ve had two kids, both of which are still very young and there just isn’t always time to spend on hair, makeup and working out. I went through a lot of physical changes in the last six years, most of which I couldn’t control and significantly impacted my health and the way I saw myself. Those moments of insecurity, when it’s hard to see myself in the mirror, have provoked me to make changes. I took control of my appearance and well-being because I am not an insecure person and had no desire to become one.

I am grateful for my learning curve. I’m a perfectionist and a touch OCD. Is it frustrating to learn the ins and outs of the news industry? Absolutely, but I relish the challenges. Every mistake I make is an opportunity to learn and a reminder that humility can be a desirable trait.

I am grateful I wasn’t born in to a wealthy family. I appreciate diamonds and designer jeans as much as the next girl but I was blessed with a family that taught me the importance of earning your place in life. Through struggle, we learn to rise up and conquer the world. Or at the very least, how to save a buck and buy a nice pair of shoes.

I am grateful for suffering. It sounds strange to say but can true righteousness exist without evil? It’s devastating when something tragic happens to a person but I am overjoyed at the opportunity to see others transformed in their journey. Rape, murder, deceit, disaster – just as a Phoenix rises from its own ashes, victims have the capability to come through the end a better person and in the process, do their part to obliterate a small amount of negativity in this world.

Life isn’t always easy but it’s always worth the struggle. This year for Thanksgiving, try to take one negative aspect of your life and turn it into something you are grateful for. Make a list of your biggest stressors and find a silver lining for each. It can be a challenge but then isn’t that, in itself, something to look forward to?