A Letter of Gratitude

     In an assembly today, we were shown a video by 'SoulPancake' on Youtube entitled "The Science of Happiness- An Experiment in Gratitude". The video showed several individuals being asked to write a letter to someone very influential to them. After writing this letter, they were then asked to call up their influential person and read their letter aloud to them. The people in the video got emotional as well as who they were expressing their gratitude to.
     After seeing this, it was clear that telling other people how much you appreciate them doesn't just impact them positively, but also yourself. Back in the classroom, we were challenged to write a letter of gratitude to someone that has affected us in a positive way. For me, this task was easy. The most influential person in my life is easily my mom. Here's my letter to the most amazing mother anyone could ever ask for:
      "Dear 'The Mother', 
Through all the ups and downs, and all the grey hair I seem to be giving you, you are still always there for me. I know it's never easy. Not just because I can sometimes be a brat, or the fact that you have to drive me thirty minutes to school everyday, and then come pick me up. It isn't the fact that I complain about eating rice a billion times a week, or when I get so moody and emotional that I'm either crying or screaming. It isn't a struggle because you're a cook, chauffeur, story teller, or expert fashion critic (obviously to make sure I look fab at all times) but because of all the challenges you face every single day. Being on disability is a battle you have been facing even before I was born. This means you wake up every single day in pain, but your first thought is always of your family. Our financial issues definitely have been stressing you out beyond belief, but you're always thinking of us when you see something in the store you think we might like. You are the most selfless, determined, and beautiful person I have ever met- inside and out. You're the glue that is holding our family together. When I have a problem, you're the one I can always go running to. Since I was little, you were my nurse, my shoulder to cry on, and my best friend. However, as amazing as you are, you're not perfect. Far from it (sorry mommy). Just like you wake up everyday in pain, I wake up wondering if my best friend will be well enough to do all the things you want to do as a mom. Some days it gets harder for both of us, but my mother isn't the kind of mom to back down from a fight. She will kick, and scream, and survive. That's what I need you to keep on doing for the rest of forever. Thank-you mom for always being the brighest smile and loudest laugh in my day. I will never be able to express how much I love and appreciate you, but here's me trying.. I will always love you - forever and always, 
      Your favourite daughter (not just favourite because I'm your only daughter), Bridgette"