I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. 🙂

I’m blessed. So fortunate. Fortunate that things didn’t get worse than they did. Fortunate to have a large group of close, supportive friends and family. Without them, my situation would be completely different. People I’ve come to know over these past years are in a much worse situation than I am. I feel bad for them, but I also feel grateful for being in the position I am now in.

My new bestie has played a key role in my progress. Since we reconnected 10 months ago, she has almost always been available to me. We’ve had some form of contact, practically every single day, over those months. She came out to visit, both me and some other friends in the area, we had some fantastic experiences and we’ve had some deep conversations too. I don’t know if it’s just great to have a new close friend who’s in my age group (recently, my friends have been younger than, almost generationally so) or the fact that we have so much in common that it has become almost passe when we discover another shared interest or belief. The running joke is that we share the same mind.

My family has been nothing short of wonderful. My mom and stepdad have opened up their home to me, letting me stay with them during this transition phase. My father, who moved to town two months ago, is always there to support me in this journey. My sister and brother-in-law have opened up their hearts and their home to me each weekend.

My family is coming back together as a unit, something I haven’t experienced in about 40 years, and it’s wonderful. I now have dinner with my mom, dad, and stepdad regularly and, for someone who grew up living first with one parent, then the other, it’s rather surreal to sit down at the table with both of them at the same time. I am grateful.

I am grateful my parents are still here, alive and doing well. I am grateful for my reconnecting with my sister. I am grateful to have a fantastic new job. I am grateful for my friends who have been so supportive. I am grateful to be healthy. I am grateful for my son, who’s growing up to be a fine young man. I am grateful for my ex-wife. I am grateful.

The Dalai Lama himself (big hitter, the Lama) talks of the importance of gratitude. It is when we forget to focus on what we have that we become dissatisfied and unhappy. So, I’m taking this moment to be grateful for everything I have in my life.

What are you grateful for?