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person holding rectangular black wooden photo frame with Give. Thanks. print
person holding rectangular black wooden photo frame with Give. Thanks. print
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UVM | Culture > Entertainment

Thank You for the Chaos

Rebecca Samuels Student Contributor, University of Vermont
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UVM chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Laughter fills the room as we all gather around the half-burnt pie and unfinished to-do list. The counter is a little messier than I wanted, and the dog just pulled a dirty plate off the table. Yet, somehow, smiles are all that’s seen. In that moment, I found myself unbelievably grateful. 

I have to admit I thought gratitude was tidy. I pictured it in journals and Pinterest boards. But this year has shown me that gratitude can be a little messy, almost chaotic. In the middle of all the uncertainty, missed deadlines, late-night tears, and plans that fell apart, I’ve realized that gratitude isn’t about perfection. It is about finding comfort in the messier times, when life doesn’t look the way we imagine.

Now I challenge you to reflect on some challenging times this semester/year. Think about the confusing times, the burnouts, the big transitions, the times you felt lost/overwhelmed. Our instinct is to find an immediate fix, but maybe the moments that feel chaotic are also where gratitude hides. 

Gratitude is a skill, and it isn’t always easy. But being thankful while lost, instead of once you’ve figured it out, is so important in order not to lose sight of the positives in your life. Gratitude can just be awareness and not only an achievement, which I think is where a lot of the misconception comes from. It can be as simple as noticing small flickers of light, kindness, or growth: 

  • Thank you to the plan that fell apart.
  • Thank you to the version of me who tried anyway.
  • Thank you to the silence that taught me to listen.
  • Thank you to every unanswered question that led to my own conclusions 

Learn to love your life even when it seems the edges are blurry, because that is when you need the positivity the most. 

Here on campus, it’s in the small moments too. The friend who came to the library with you so you didn’t have to cram studying alone, the laughter that echoes in the hallway after long class days, and the clubs and events that remind you of the amazing community that is here to support you even when you’re down. 

So, with the season of thanks, and you are sitting around the messy table, with food crumbs on the counter, realize that gratitude and a little chaos can go together. This year, I’m not thankful because everything is perfect in my life, but because it isn’t, and I’m learning to love the messiness.

Rebecca Samuels

UVM '29

Hi! I’m Rebecca Samuels, a freshman at the University of Vermont studying Nutrition and Food Science on the Pre-PT track. I’m from West Hartford, CT, and love spending time outdoors doing activities like running, biking, and hiking. I also enjoy finding cute bookstores and cozy coffee shops wherever I travel.