Sitting next to my mother at our oval kitchen table, reading love stories on Storylane. My dad’s in the room next to us, the Clippers are on television, and my youngest brother is opening a video game from his Christmas stash.

I’m thinking about our lives today, and how the average American lives 75 years. I’m 22 right now, and assuming I live to 75, I have 53 years left.

I have so much time, and yet so little. I’ll write more about this later tonight, but for now, I wanted to give thanks for how I’ve spent these formative 22 years. My parents have taught me to think independently, to expect the best of myself, to pursue that which makes me happy over all. Now, looking forward, I have all the tools necessary to live my life in its happiest state.

I feel so blessed to be surrounded by love.