Winning the gratitude challenge

By Matthew, age 12

It was the end of the world. School was closed for another 2 weeks, and I couldn’t take being on my laptop every day. Looking out the window, listening to the rain trickle down my window, and taking my online courses day after day. I was bored to death, stuck in my home where days became weeks and weeks became months. Something had to change.

I challenged myself to be grateful in these hard times. I thought it was impossible until I creaked down the stairs for dinner, and gazed at my family perched at the table. One of the biggest changes in these months was that my dad was home, instead of at his office. Time felt like it was slowing down, I could enjoy as much time as I wanted with my dad and the entire family. Because we were finally eating all together as a family, my mom started trying to prepare new delicious dishes that were all flavorful and scrumptious. Walking through the park daily gave me bursts of joy, looking at the season’s change, hearing the sounds of crunching leaves, and feeling the breeze of wind. So yes, there was a lot to be grateful for after all. Although we had trouble during these times, focusing on the good things stood us up, and helped us stay strong.