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The night of Tour De Compadres began just the way it should – with our Student Activities staff being notified from the Ticket Office that the show had sold out! Selling out meant a lot to us here at SA, but first and foremost it meant that the night would be at the maximum capacity of not only people, but also excitement.

And exciting it was! From the moment the doors opened to the Vines Center, you could see people scurrying down the aisles, trying to find the closest seat they could to the stage. There were a few “No running!” yells and some people who weren’t the happiest that they didn’t find the closest seats to the stage, but any feeling of negativity was slung into the void as Welshly Arms opened the show. Their alternative rock sound was the perfect way to open the show and pique the interest of anyone who didn’t previously know their music.

The next act to come on stage was Parachute – and yes, there were tears when “She is Love” played. Quick fact: did you know “She is Love” was released in 2009? All those years ago, the song was released when you were a teeny-bopper and it still brings you to tears when Will Anderson softly sings “She is love, and she is all I need”. After an around 30-minute set from Parachute, the way was made for Mat Kearney.

Mat Kearney made his entrance singing hits like “Air I Breathe” and “Nothing Left to Lose”. It was clear that a crowd goes pretty wild for a man in an all-white outfit and a fedora as Kearney stepped off the stage and walked through seats. Fans were screaming and reaching out for him, and this excitement carried all the way through his performance until the end when he sang his hit song “Ships in the Night”.

After Kearney wrapped up, everyone was caught up in anticipation for the headliner of the show: NEEDTOBREATHE. Around 10pm, the band reported to the stage as the crowd’s enthusiasm was at an all-time high. A room full of people screaming NTB’s hit song “Happiness” together is something that one must experience at least once, and for over 6,000 fans, this experience happened on the perfect night.

At the end of the show, all of the artists from the Tour De Compadres were together on stage, singing “Brother” as the crowd was singing along with them. And in this moment, the epitome of the Tour De Compadres was shown – the feeling and definition of community, which we all long for, was found in the finale of the show. This moment and the show as a whole will surely not be forgotten by any fan who attended.

This is the concert event many of you have been waiting for! Student Activities is thrilled to be the final stop of the Tour De Compadres featuring NEEDTOBREATHE, Mat Kearney, Parachute, and Welshly Arms, taking place on Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 PM in the Vines Center. If, by the time you read this, you still need a ticket, here is what you need to know:

• Only General Admission tickets remain
• $16 for Students ($26 at the door)
• $21 for general public ($31 at the door)

You can purchase tickets on our website (www.liberty.edu/sa) on the “Tickets” tab at the top of the screen. Just choose the ticket type that is right for you.

NEEDTOBREATHE has been a part of Student Activities and Liberty University for quite some time now. They performed here for the first time in 2009 and have been back several times since then, but none of those appearances have been as big as it will be with the Tour De Compadres. The first Tour De Compadres set a high standard for any successive versions as it featured, among others, Switchfoot and Ben Rector, artists that have no problem standing on their own. The Tour was such a great idea and big success, that it earned a sequel, the Tour De Compadres Dos, presumably, and it seems safe to assume that there will be many more sequels in years to come.

For NTB, this tour is all about their latest release, HARDLOVE (released July 15 of this year), their highest charting album yet; it debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top 200, and was the top selling album the week of its release*. It has been a steady climb for them in their 15-ish year career, but certainly a difficult one, something Bear & co. talked about in greater detail in the process of making their last album, Rivers in the Wasteland**. That difficulty is reflected in the three opening tracks of their latest release. “Mountain, Pt. 1”, the title track, and even “Money & Fame” reveal in increasingly specific ways the struggles they face. Fans have always been drawn to their talent and sound, but their willingness to be vulnerable is their most endearing characteristic and something that will protect their songs from shifts in musical fads and fashions. In terms of overall sound, the latest album bends away from their brand of southern rock/pop a bit more than previous albums, leaning into obvious influence from R&B and soul, heard especially in tracks like the aforementioned “Money & Fame”, “When I Sing”, and “Happiness”. There are still plenty of the foot-stomping tracks that have been somewhat of their signature sound, as well as a couple of quite romantic ballads in “Let’s Stay Home Tonight” and “Clear”. Overall, HARDLOVE can only add to their appeal, but without losing the heart of what has gotten them this far. They are a band that is always looking for that “crack in the door filled with light” as they sang in “Wasteland”, and that hope shines through as a defining characteristic of their music.

As if they are not enough on their own, the Tour De Compadres also brings one of the artists we have received requests for most: Mat Kearney. To top it off, the show will kick off with Welshly Arms and their blues rock sound and Charlottesville’s own Parachute, who has established quite a following of their own. You get them all in one great night on the last show of this Tour De Compadres.

Check out all the details at www.liberty.edu/sa. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

*http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7446707/drake-views-no-1-billboard-200-11th-week

**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7jbqxruhZ

On that blustery, ill-fated day, one we all know as Thursday, October 27^th, America’s most overlooked app was shut down. That’s right – Twitter announced that Vine would be closing, over with, “done for”, as some say. The sad, harsh reality is that we have to decide right now how to feel – indifferent, cheated, left wanting more? Or do we as Vine-users feel as though the old saying is true: all good things really should come to an end?

The app, launched on January 24, 2013, quickly attracted many, causing it to acquire 200 million users in just under three years. Some of Liberty’s very own, such as Caleb Natale (whose fame was catapulted from this Drake vine), Jake Holland, and Steven Honaker have achieved “Vine fame”, creating Vines that hundreds of thousands of people are still following. The app has been known to not only create laughter, but also to create relationships, bonding people over their ability to make the most of the six seconds they have to make people chuckle. The three aforementioned “Viners” are often featured in Vines together, showcasing the relationships that can blossom from comical collaboration.

Vine has been a creative outlet for many, redefining the power of the short video forever. It truly is sad to see the app go its own way. But for now, we will reminisce on the good ole days and continue to watch this. If you have time today in your “busy” schedule, it might be sort of therapeutical to reflect on some of Vine’s best moments, and to remember some of the best times we “did it for the Vine”.

What do you think about Vine shutting down?

Guess what? Student Activities has another Double Feature Movie Night for you! Sometimes these are risky for us because showing two movies doubles the chances that someone is going to complain. But not this time! That’s because this one is in the Vines Center on Saturday, October 29 and will take place on Family Weekend, and that means innocuous entertainment. And as everyone knows, “innocuous entertainment” is a perfect anagram for “A sin enticement? No! Outrun!” which is why we will be showing you:

• The Secret Life of Pets – starting at 8 PM
• Pete’s Dragon – starting approx. 9:40 PM

First up is The Secret Life of Pets (released July 8, 2016), which you may be surprised learn finished its theatrical run as the fifth highest grossing, “not based on anything” movie of all time*, earning more than original-idea favorites such as Inside Out and Inception, 6^th and 7^th on that list respectively, and was getting closer to fifth place, occupied by the unanimously beloved Finding Nemo. Of course, a movie’s worth is not all about gross earnings, but it speaks well of Pets, and the potential of future movies, that it has been so successful without being a reboot or a big-budget blockbuster based on something familiar. But as critic Scott Mendelson suggested**, there’s a bigger question to ask here: why didn’t anyone think of this movie’s concept sooner? The basic idea of the movie is that people have pets and those pets do things, including getting into madcap adventures, while the people aren’t home. The voice acting is quality but not overwhelming in terms of star power. Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Ellie Kemper, and Eric Stonestreet are all popular to very popular, and they all do a very good job, though the role of Snowball the bunny taps into Kevin Hart’s bombastic tone and so requires a bit more than most of the other characters. Overall, The Secret Life of Pets is straightforwardly fun for all ages, and no one can complain about that.

Pete’s Dragon (released August 12, 2016) will follow shortly after. It is a bit more Neverending Story than it is a remake of Pete’s Dragon, the live-action plus animation, half-musical Disney movie from 1977. This is a good thing because you lose nearly all of the slapstick goofiness and all the song & dance of the 1977 version. Instead, you get an emotionally rich story that still incorporates some very good Disney special effects on a drastically different looking version of the dragon Elliott. Of course, you still get Pete, played terrifically by newcomer Oakes Fegley. The other major characters of note are played by Robert Redford, Bryce Dallas Howard, who you will probably remember as Claire in Jurassic World, and Karl Urban, #2 on the list of all-time greatest portrayals of Dr. “Bones” McCoy from Star Trek. As for the story, we won’t give anything away, but we should warn you that it is likely that some heartstrings may be tugged as you watch this movie, so prepare accordingly.

Just to “cover our bases”, we should mention that both movies are rated PG, cumulatively, for action, peril, brief language, and some rude humor.

This event is free to attend and as usual we will have FREE popcorn and cheap snacks and drinks available. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

_______

*http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2016/10/17/box-office-secret-life-of-pets-becomes-fifth-biggest-wholly-original-hit-ever/#1c73f9d37923

**http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2016/07/11/box-office-secret-life-of-pets-is-a-gigantic-hit-because-everyone-wanted-to-see-it/#55a4c0d13bc9

I don’t understand it.

That’s the phrase that came to mind as I listened to “22 (Over Soon)”, the first song on Bon Iver’s new album 22, A Million. After eagerly pressing play on the opening track, my enthusiastic attitude towards listening to this album slowly turned into confusion, and then frustration. I wanted to get it – to understand. And in this quick moment, I felt as though I couldn’t.

After listening to and appreciating Justin Vernon and his band known as Bon Iver for years, I found myself having high (possibly unreachable) expectations for 22, A Million. The band’s albums For Emma, Forever Ago (2007) and Bon Iver (2011) both intrigued and made sense to me as I listened from beginning to end. With 22, A Million, I had to dig a little deeper.

It’s easy to hear an album like 22, A Million and feel the necessity for instant connection. While this was not something I experienced from listening to the first half of the album, this does not mean that I couldn’t relate to it by the end. Instead, it means that the album must be peered into like a pair of eyes that mean the most to you – it must be treated gently for the fragile soul that it is, and it must be preserved and discussed in order to relate to it. An album of this weight should be pulled apart and examined and considered.

The first thing that can be said about this album is that Justin Vernon is not afraid of experimentation – the album takes a drastic turn from what his other albums sound like. The first five seconds of “22 (Over Soon)” sound like a buzz – a constant, never-ending buzz that you cannot push away from your mind, no matter how much you want it to leave. Instead of allowing the buzz to be pushed away, Vernon manipulates it and adds to it, changing its value and casting it to the background along with other soft sounds that come along with it, causing only his voice to be noticed and heard as he repeats “It might be over soon”.

These five words are repeated seven times throughout “22, Over Soon”, each time sounding completely different from the time before. This phrase seems to be the theme of the album – a feeling of uneasiness and almost a bit of anxiety is threaded through each song with perfection. It feels as though the listener is hanging onto every word Vernon sings, waiting for what sound or word will come next. Everything that the listener feels can be tied into the five aforementioned words – “it might be over soon”. The anxiety and uneasiness that can come with the ending of something is deeply transfused into every song on 22, A Million.

From the beginning to the end of the album, Vernon expresses this same uneasiness. In the album’s closing song “00000 Million”, he repeats the words “worry” and “wander” in regard to time and days. Spencer Kornhaber of The Atlantic remarks that “00000 Million” is a “melody that sounds inspired by American folk standards—hints of “Kumbaya,” maybe—while delivering some of the most legible lyrics of his career, reflections on straying from the obvious path in life.” Straying, worrying and wander are all words that reverberate out of this album with strength.

When it comes to understanding the album, as a listener I feel as though I’ve barely scratched the surface. While this could be looked at as a negative listening experience, it is instead one that can also be looked at as a growing experience. This album requires an eager listener to not just take it at face value – instead, it must be searched.

And as a believer in Bon Iver and his honest yet strangely ambiguous lyrics, this is what I’ll do – I’ll continue to search this album with the belief that there could be great value in what I find.

Student Activities is quite happy to host the Looking For America Tour featuring Switchfoot AND Relient K, taking place on Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 PM in the Vines Center. Some of the doubters out there probably thought a double billing like this is too good to be true, and that is exactly why doubters are no fun to have at your party. Legally, however, we have to allow them at the concert, so here is what tickets look like for anyone (doubters included):

• Gold Circle Floor (front standing room) – $51 (limited quantities remain)
• Floor Seats – $31 advance ($36 at the door, if any remain)
• General Admission – $16 for Students ($21 at the door), $19 for Alumni ($21 at the door), $21 for general public ($26 at the door)

Just head on over to our website (www.liberty.edu/sa), mouse over/click the “Tickets” tab at the top of the screen, and choose the ticket type that is right for you.

As for the concert, it is tempting to say “What more can you ask for?” and then walk away. Switchfoot and Relient K have combined to make 21 albums, sold millions of them, and could probably fill a tour bus with all of the various awards they have won. Plus, who but Switchfoot have ever really been so bold in their daring folks to move, and how else would anyone even know about either a Sadie Hawkins’ dance or khaki pants if not for Relient K? However, past success does not have much to say about the future of a band, whether you think of it in terms of relevance, influence, or commercial success. And thinking of artists in terms of relevance or commercial success is probably the worst way to take them for granted and is always at the expense of their art. Thankfully, both Relient K and Switchfoot continue to create strong work, as evidenced by both artists’ most recent releases.

Once the pop-punk trend of the late 1990’s/early-mid 2000’s died down, Relient K continued on, maturing for sure, yet maintaining the overall sound that defined them from the beginning. Their latest effort, Air for Free, is every bit as fun as previous efforts, yet can very much be defined by the tracks “Man” and “God”, both of which reveal their mature songwriting and life perspective. Switchfoot, on the other hand, has evolved a bit differently. Certainly, they have a defined sound, but the tones and song crafting of the first half of their career differs from at least the last 3 albums. Their latest album, Where the Light Shines Through, picks up very much where Vice Verses left off, with many of the similar song qualities that appear there. Two big departures from that album are the tracks “Float”, a 50/50 blend of “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell & The Drells and “Dreams” by Beck, and the track for which the tour is named, “Looking for America” featuring Lecrae. Much like their tour counterpart, Switchfoot capably treads the line between the serious and the shallow, though they lean more toward serious, and Relient K toward shallow. The new albums from both artists are an excellent combination of thoughtful songcrafting and arena-ready rock, and you can hear it all on Thursday, October 20.

Check out all the details at www.liberty.edu/sa. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

Student Activities is well aware what month it is, and so we know full well what holiday dominates that month. That’s why our next Double Feature Movie Night, taking place on Friday, October 14 in the Vines Center, is a great way for you to mentally prepare for your All Hallows’ Eve costume options as we present:

• Star Trek Beyond – starting at 8 PM
• Ghostbusters (2016) – starting at approx. 10:10 PM

If there is one thing sci-fi movies that prominently feature aliens have taught us, it is that if we ever encounter hostile aliens anywhere in the universe, they will likely underestimate the plucky underdog-ed-ness of humanity, probably resulting in many laser deaths and spaceship explosions.  As with the other installments in the franchise, Star Trek Beyond exemplifies this in the most blockbuster-y, popcorn action movie way possible. There aren’t many pluckier underdogs in any movie than Captain James T. Kirk, and Chris Pine has shown that he fits the role quite well: he is strong and determined, yet shows a mischievousness that borders on recklessness, a necessary trait if you and your crew are going to get into any kind of interstellar hijinks. Pine, along with the rest of that crew, is what really makes this new J.J. Abrams led Star Trek series; Zachary Quinto’s Spock, Zoe Saldana’s Uhura, Simon Pegg’s Scotty, and Karl Urban’s Bones work so well together we should probably expect to see no less than seven of these movies. Abrams, however, steps aside from directing in this one, passing the clapperboard to Justin Lin, director of several of the Fast & Furious movies. It might be exactly what you expect from a Star Trek movie, but in this case, that is a very fun and good thing.

Following Star Trek Beyond will be one of 2016’s most talked about movies, the semi-reboot* of Ghostbusters. Though it came close, it could only get to third on the all-time list of Movies That Ruined People’s Childhoods, unable to unseat either Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace or Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, numbers one and 2 on that list. ***Viewer warning: It is possible that you “ain’t afraid of almost no ghosts”, but cannot go so far as to say you “ain’t afraid of no ghosts.” If this describes you, we recommend caution as this movie features many types and sizes of ghosts, and so we cannot guarantee that you ain’t not be afraid of some of them. Otherwise, we would like to reiterate that Kate McKinnon is the greatest, and when paired with Kristen Wiig, it can almost only result in good things (not to take anything away from Melissa McCarthy or Leslie Jones, or Chris Hemsworth for that matter). And if you really needed your nostalgia to be more heavy-handed than it already is, most of the prominent characters from the original Ghostbusters appear at various points throughout.

It’s two of this summer’s biggest blockbusters, played back to back for your convenience. Of course, this event is free to attend, and there will be FREE popcorn and cheap concessions available. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

Watch Star Trek Beyond Trailer

Watch Ghostbusters (2016) Trailer

Student Activities has yet another outstanding Documentary Film Night, featuring a film that, for some of us, will be more terrifying than The Exorcist and more emotionally distressing than The Notebook. Start preparing now for That Sugar Film. Come to the LaHaye Event Space on Tuesday, October 11 starting at 7 PM to witness the film that celebrity chef and all-around healthy guy Jamie Oliver says is “a definite must-see!”

That Sugar Film stars Australian actor Damon Gameau, who conducts a health experiment on himself involving what you may have already guessed is sugar. As he reveals in the early going of the film, he shifted his diet (primarily as a way to impress his girlfriend) from an intake of generally unhealthy things like cigarettes, sugar, and homemade pizza, to a much healthier diet that, at the very least, eliminated all processed sugar. However, when she became pregnant, and as he noticed the amount of attention being given to the sugar content of many of the foods we consume, he decided to look for more “definitive answers”. That is where his experiment came in. His goal: to eat the average Australian’s intake of sugar per day, but without eating any stereotypically “sugary” foods. In fact, he attempts to do the opposite, eating only foods that are labeled “healthy”, or at least thought of as healthy, such as flavored yogurt, smoothies, juices, and cereals. That average intake according to the film, by the way, is 40 teaspoons daily. This may seem high, but as Damon demonstrates in the film, that amount is relatively easy to reach eating those “healthy” foods because of what the film shows are “hidden sugars”. You get to see what happens to Damon as a result of his experiment, as well as a brief history of sugar as a commodity and industry, and even a cameo from everyone’s favorite Australian, Hugh Jackman.

Following the film, you will hear from several terrific guest speakers, including Dr. C. Anna Henderson, who is a Registered Dietitian from the Department of Public Health, Kristina DiSanto, who is a Registered Dietitian from Liberty Dining Services, and Campus Recreation’s own Jamie Swyers, who is the Director of Recreation Centers. They will be checking your bags at the door to make sure you don’t have any “junk food”. JUST KIDDING. (No, but seriously, if you want to buy any soda or candy, you’ll have to go to the dumpsters outside of the building between the Event Space and the Tower Theater. Ask for “Patty”. Bring quarters.)

Just to “cover our bases”, we should mention that this film is rated PG for what is described as “disturbing material and discussions”, largely involving health-related issues.

This event is free to attend. Space is limited, so get there early. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

Watch the Trailer

If you are anything like me, you’ve probably been praying for the day fall break begins because, let’s be honest, school can be really tough! The idea of fall break is always so exciting until you realize that you have nothing planned and you are probably just going to go home and binge watch One Tree Hill on Netflix.

But let’s get real for a second…that’s pretty lame! This blog post is here to help you have an adventurous fall break and avoid going to your grandparents’ house. Grab some friends, pull your money together and hit the road!

Lynchburg! 

Lynchburg has so much to offer, but we often take this beautiful city for granted. Let me tell you about some of my favorite spots around town to provide you with the perfect day’s itinerary!

Start your day off with some brunch (because nobody wants to wake up before 10 a.m.) at Market at Main downtown. After brunch, I recommend taking a walk on the Blackwater Creek trails that run by the James River.

Next, it’s probably time for another cup of coffee (am I right?) or tea, if you’re into that kind of thing. For the tea lovers, I recommend Karma Tea. It’s new and was recommended to me by another local business owner in downtown Lynchburg. For the coffee lovers, I am a HUGE fan of the Colombian blend at The Muse, though I might be a little biased because we hand that out at our coffee promo tables. Another great place is Nomad Coffee Co. The cool part about them is that you never know where they are, so check out their Instagram (@nomadcoffeecompany) and see where they are posted for the day!

Is it time for lunch yet? Let me tell you about a cute little spot that is a must! Farm Basket is hidden along the Blackwater Creek and connected to a little shop. Grab some good food, do a little shopping and then appreciate the view.

A couple places that you have to check out before dinner are Peaks View Park and Irvington Spring Farm – because what’s better than parks and flowers? Grab a blanket to lie out at the park or go pick some flowers at the farm.

Whenever my friends and I are trying to think of a place to eat, we always end up picking Rivermont Pizza. RP has, in my opinion, some of the best pizza in Lynchburg and the atmosphere is the best place for a night with friends. End your night at Maylynn’s Creamery with my personal favorite treat – a vanilla cone covered in Fruity Pebbles!

Charlottesville

I love Charlottesville, and so does everyone else. There is so much to do in Charlottesville – you could spend your entire fall break there and have a blast! Since it is fall, there are a lot of apple orchards where you can pick apples, grab some cider donuts and taste delicious hot apple cider.

A few of my favorite restaurants in Charlottesville are Citizen Burger, where you can get delectable burgers made with locally-farmed meat, Himalayan Fusion for all the Indian food lovers, and of course, the always amazing Mellow Mushroom. All of these places have amazing food but completely different atmospheres. I love the diversity that Charlottesville offers – from its variety in food to its never-ending list of activities to take part in, there is always something new to try. I promise you will not regret a trip out there!

I hope you see that you don’t have to go far to have a Fall Break filled with exploration and good food. I’m off to Asheville, NC with my best friend for the weekend. We’ll be staying in a hostel, trying new food and doing a lot of shopping. Hope you all have the best fall break!

It’s Freshman Move-In Week. The Student Activities crew has been working tirelessly for the better part of August to make sure all the events planned run smoothly for the freshly minted incoming students. We start the usual first day of move-in routine with a lawn promotion out on the Commons lawn. My stomach is a little upset, but nothing is going to stop me on one of the most hectic weekends of the year. We finish promotion and transition into Bingo Night. At this point my stomach is hurting pretty bad, but obviously I’m super tough, so I keep on working, not trying to think about it too much. By the middle of Bingo Night I’m on the phone with my mother asking if I should go to the hospital because I’m pretty sure I have appendicitis. It just so happens that my parents are in town dropping off my younger brother so they pick me up and take me to the Emergency Room.

The next two hours in the ER weren’t the most pleasant, but I was extremely lucky to have my parents and girlfriend there with me. Long story short, I get evaluated, scanned and diagnosed with appendicitis and it only took about 7 hours! By the time I went to bed the next morning around 5 AM , I was pretty fed up with the whole process leading up to that point, but knowing I was about to have surgery in a few hours made it seem like I was home free. So of course nothing made me happier than when I get out of surgery and the surgeon tells me that they found another infection while doing the procedure and I would have to stay in the hospital for one, maybe two more days as a result. “Great, a couple more days in prison,” I think to myself. After half a week I was finally released and free to do whatever I wanted, mostly. Reflecting back on the time spent in the hospital now, I could not be more thankful.

Four days is a long time when sitting in a hospital room not doing anything besides watching TV. I was ready to start banging my head off the wall because I was so bored, but my parents, girlfriend and friends that all spent time with me kept me sane. I found myself thinking over and over again, “I’m so thankful my parents are here”, “I’m so thankful Mer is here”, “I’m so thankful Jake, Erin, Cale and Kay are here”. As my strength improved I continued saying things I was thankful for, such as “I’m so thankful I can walk”, “I’m so thankful I can go to the bathroom by myself”, “I’m so glad I can eat solid food”. Being in the hospital for that short time made me actually thankful. I put emphasis on “actually” because I feel like it is so easy to fall into the routine of thinking that you are thankful for various things when you aren’t actually thankful. Before my surgery I would say I was thankful for things so often to the point that I wasn’t even thinking about what I was actually saying. I had fallen into this pattern of artificial thankfulness.

I am thankful that I had to spend time in the hospital because it forced me out of this pattern. Having surgery made me slow down and remember why I am so incredibly thankful for everything I have in my life. It is so easy to let everything going on in life completely take over the majority of our thoughts and daily lives, but it is crucial to slow down every once in a while and ask ourselves why we are thankful for things so that we don’t fall into that same routine, thoughtlessly and senselessly saying we are thankful. We can say we are thankful for so many things, but we find out what we are actually thankful for when we slow down from our insanely busy lives and ask ourselves “Why?”

Slow down. Pause for a moment. Take a break when life is crazy. Remember everything you have and ask yourself, “Why am I thankful?” ‘Tis the season, after all.