I know that writing a list of what I am thankful for as my blog for this week may be cliche, but sometimes things are cliche for a reason. A reason why is because they are good. I’m currently in my fourth month of my internship at MTC and life is super busy in my internship and outside of it. Sometimes a reminder of all we have to be grateful for during the crazy times, makes those crazy times a little better. So without further ado, this is my list of things I have to be grateful for in all aspects of my life.
Family
I’m very close with my family and I always have been. I realize how lucky I am though this year. A year ago, we didn’t know if we’d ever have another holiday with my grandpa. My grandparents have been a huge part of my life and practically helped raise me along with my mom. This time last year, I was sitting in a chair next to my grandpa while he was in the ICU from a double subdural hematoma. This year, I was able to move back to my home area. I see my family a lot more often than I was able to when I was a couple hours away in Macomb. I’m so grateful that I have been able to be more involved. I am so close with my sister and my mom and they have both been so supportive of me as I do my internship and just go through regular life.
My internship
I am so thankful for my internship for so many reasons. I spent so much time looking for an internship, sending out applications, and doing interviews. I was worried that I would never find one and when I did it was almost serendipitous in how it turned out. MTC is twenty minutes away from where I grew up and only two minutes away from where I was already living after completing my coursework at WIU. Not only that, but I had talked to one of owners of the business before I ever went off to college about how I knew I wanted to go to school for music therapy. It has turned out to be so much of what I was looking for and more. I have always been interested in private practice, so getting to do so is a dream come true. The atmosphere is so welcoming. I wish I could tell myself from a year ago or even six months ago to not worry so much about thinking I’ll never find an internship. Everyone says this, but you’ll find one. No matter where you end up, you’ll learn so much.
My friends
Life is a crazy ride and I don’t know where I would be without my friends. Making friends has never been super easy for me but I have a few close friends. People who have supported me in my dreams; to keep going when things got tough. They have been there when graduation felt impossibly far or when my life felt like it was falling apart. Though my close friends are comprised of my best friend, who is now living all the way over in Alaska, weirdly enough my ex (we’re on good terms and she is a big supporter of me and my partner), my sister, and my partner. I am so lucky to have also made new friends in my co-workers.
My coworkers
It can be scary being the new person to enter the mix anywhere, but I have been so lucky. Like I stated before, I don’t always make friends easily, but this group has accepted me so graciously. I can be awkward and talk a lot, especially when I’m nervous, but they have made me feel so included and at home here. My biggest belief is that we have something to learn from everyone and in this time, I have already learned so much from these wonderful women.
My lesson students
When I started teaching lessons at MTC, I was terrified. A little voice in my head said that I didn’t know what I was doing and that I wasn’t qualified. Now it’s months later and I love it so much. I am so thankful for my students for helping ignite this passion. I have learned so much about teaching but my own skills too. I feel like I have become a better singer, pianist, and ukulele player through it all. I also have found a confidence in it that I did not have before. I love seeing my student work hard and it’s so great when they make a breakthrough.
All my clients
I’m thankful for all my clients. I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without them. They bring so much joy and energy into my day. They have made me a better music therapist and facilitator. I have learned so much that I didn’t get a chance to in school. There’s something about getting to do what you love that makes each day worth it, even on tough days. Seeing effect of how music helps them is like no other. Even if it feels like a small victory, I love being able to see them grow. I’m so proud of my clients and everything they achieve. I never thought I would be at a school working with kids for a majority of my week, but it has been so rewarding.
My music education
I will forever be grateful for the music education I received throughout my life. In school, my teachers helped foster my love of music. In high school, I was able to do challenging pieces of music and take multiple semesters of music theory and composition. I learned about my voice and was able to spend time understanding the foundational building blocks of music as well as composing your own music. This paved a way for me to study music. I already knew I wanted to go into music therapy, but this gave me a leg up. In college, theory 1 and 2 ended up being a review for me. I ended up doing even more complicated music in my time at Western. n that time, I learned so much about the voice and all the intricate parts that are involved in singing, which has greatly impacted the lessons I teach. I was able to learn piano, continue my guitar skills, and create memories from such great experiences such as getting to perform with the only choir to get to represent Illinois at a regional conference to being one of the first choirs to debut a new masterworks.
Having my necessities
We all know things are a little wild in the world right now. I am so very thankful for all that I have. I have an apartment, with heat, that is stocked with food. I have clothes, a bed, and a car to get to work. Am I barely scraping by some months? For sure, but I’m getting by. In a time where so many don’t have these necessities, I am so thankful that I do. And I know that if I ever not being able to afford these necessities, my family wouldn’t blink twice at the thought of helping me through.
Final Thoughts
It can be hard to remember all we have to be thankful for in these times, hence, why I did this to remind myself. Maybe this has led you to reflect on what you’re thankful for. I know I’m thankful for the opportunity to write this and the fact that you are reading this.
GraceAnne
