Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but this year will obviously be really different. Rather than spending it watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning and then enjoying a delicious feast with my big family later in the day, I'll be working at Magic Kingdom, serving guests and making their Thanksgiving a magical one. As much as I would rather be back at home with my loved ones for the day, I have come to realize since I've been apart from them that I've been blessed with so much.
This year, I am extremely grateful for so many things. I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime by working for the Walt Disney Company. But there's so much more to it than that. Since I've been here, I've been able to think deeply about all that's happened since I've moved away and all the changes I've gone through, and realized how it is shaping me as a person.
I'm so thankful for my family, especially my parents. They have been extremely supportive of my dreams to do the college program, even if it meant that I had to take a semester off of school and wouldn't be able to spend the holidays with them. I'm also really fortunate that they will be coming to visit me at such a special time at Disney. Not everyone's parents have been as supportive of their kids' dreams. My family has been there for me through all my emotions while I've been away (me being the dramatic girl I am, they've dealt with a LOT of emotions hehehe), about being homesick and other obstacles I've faced during my program. Without their endless support, I'm not sure how I could've dealt with everything properly.
I'm thankful for all of my friends back home. Thank you guys for doing your absolute best to stay in touch despite all of our busy schedules. At this point in our lives, now that the majority of us are done with undergrad (except for me, womp womp), it's really hard to stay in touch with people. People are going in different directions, traveling down new paths, which often means leaving the past behind them and going forward to fulfill their needs. Despite doing their own thing, I'll always be grateful that I've been able to stay in touch with all my friends back home, and blessed to be surrounded by those that have been so graciously loving and understanding during my hard times, and endlessly happy for me as I live my dream.
I'm thankful for all my friends here at Disney, and my amazing co-workers. The people that I'm friends with here are experiencing this magical life with me (and sometimes not so magical) and I'm happy I have great people to share these memories with. I'm really thankful to have people to relate to about all the things we are going through on my program, and also especially thankful that I have people I can dork out about Disney with and they actually understand! haha. Without the friends I've made here, my program certainly wouldn't be as special.
Lastly, I am thankful for the opportunity to work at Disney, even if it's just for a semester. I'm living out my dream and it all still feels like a fantasy. I may complain a lot about the weather and talk about how badly I can't wait to go home, but I will always and forevermore be thankful to be here. The experiences I've had here are memories I will always carry in my heart, the lessons I've learned will allow me to grow as a person, and the magic I'm surrounded by each day will live on with me.
Although I can't be with my family this year on this holiday, I'm sure that it will still be a good one.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Love, Lindsey
