Thankful Thursday

Seeing as it's the month of Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, and I'm a fan of alliteration, I decided to take time each Thursday to reflect on and share with you all what I'm thankful for because I think too often I get caught up in the negatives in life and believe it important to highlight the positives. My hope is that reading some of the things I'm thankful for can help you find the blessings hidden in your own lives. 

Now, on with the thanks. This week, I'm highlighting why I'm thankful for technology (and those constantly innovating and improving it). 

Stop right now and look around wherever it is you're reading from. How many different technological marvels are in your midst right now? I know there's one for sure (how else would you be reading this?) and don't doubt there are more. For me, right now I am writing this on my laptop, have my phone next to me, my iPod is right next to that, my tablet is in my backpack, and there's a TV right behind me.

While there's a group of people that often criticize the technological world we live in, I embrace it and, as I have already mentioned, am thankful for it. 

Last weekend a dear friend lost someone incredibly close to her. When I found out I was able to share a message with her instantly via text message letting her know I was there for her even though I was across the country. A few days later I was again able to share a message with her about something I experienced which reminded me of her. And for that, I am thankful.

This week I had two exams and so stress level was high and I wanted nothing more than to be with my momma and close friends from home. However, although I wasn't able to physically be present with them, they were still able to support me. Via Facebook my mom has made me laugh and made me cry. She's answered countless text messages and answered my random phone calls when I just needed someone to listen. Also via Facebook I've been messaging back and forth with my best friends since elementary school. I can always count on that ridiculous group message to make me smile like a fool or listen to me vent about the silliest little things. Via text messages I've been able to connect with friends near and far, talking about the most random of subjects or some of the more heavy. Via Snapchat I've been able to catch glimpses of the lives of my friends and see their smiling (or sometimes just plain ridiculous) faces that never fail to make me laugh out loud. Literally. And for that, I am thankful. 

This weekend I am planning a time to video chat with some friends from home, all of us together just like old times. This is something that has brought me great happiness in the past and I am greatly looking forward to it. And for that, I am thankful. 

This is only a snapshot of how this week technology has been a positive thing in my life and something I am thankful for. It doesn't account for the number of times I've been able to look up bible verses, the number of encouraging songs I've been able to listen to when feeling down, my uncle tutoring me for my stats exam from Texas, and SO much more. 

We are in the age of technology and so it's easy to forget that all of these things are not something we're entitled to. They're blessings (that's right, I said it, Snapchat is a blessing).