Giving Thanks!

On this Thanksgiving day I thought I'd take the opportunity to share a few of the many things I'm grateful for.  There's no doubt that the past few years have been challenging to say the least, but there is always reason to be thankful for something.  I give thanks for my loving family and friends who have supported and cheered me on throughout this journey.  It would have been so easy to give up on me given all of the setbacks and restarts I've had over a three year period.  I give thanks for having a roof over my head and never having to be out on the street.  I have my own place now, but this past year I wasn't so lucky and was taken in by my sister.  It wasn't an ideal situation for them and my presence was a disruption in their day to day lives.  I could have just as easily been homeless for a time, but the love and sacrifice of Susan and her family made a home for me for almost a year and I'll never be able to truly express my gratitude for what they went through on my behalf.  My local close friends also saw me through this difficult time and they continue to love and support me on my path to greater well-being.  Even though it may sound strange, I'm thankful for the mental health system here in the greater Phoenix area.  The various hospitals and outpatient clinics and programs have been there when I needed help the most; and while no one really enjoys an inpatient stay it's a blessing that these facilities are there.  Whether it's been for a full blown crash and burn or just an adjustment in medication, the hospital settings I've experienced have been more than beneficial to me.  My current group is outstanding and I'm learning new things and getting various perspectives from the other members as well as the facilitators.  I give thanks, of course, for having food to eat as there are so many out there who don't.  It's so easy to think about all the people who have more than we do; the grass is always greener in someone else's yard.  It can be harder to recognize and remember that there are those out there who are much less fortunate, who don't have homes or families, who don't have a roof over their heads or regular access to food.  My experiences of being hospitalized on numerous occasions allowed me to witness some of these very people. I'll tell you it sure puts things into perspective!  Here's where I get just a little bit political, so I apologize in advance if I upset anyone of throw them into a raving fit, but I have to say that I'm extremely grateful for Obamacare or else I'd have no health coverage or access to care without throwing me into bankruptcy.  I'm learning to live on a very modest Social Security income and the subsidies that help with my premiums have been a lifeline for me.  The coverage has been great and I've been able to access the healthcare I've desperately needed over the past year.  In February I transition to Medicare which will take some getting used to, but again, I'm thankful that I will continue to have coverage!  Finally, I'm thankful for this platform that allows me to express my thoughts and share a modicum of who I am as a person.  Blogging truly brings much needed happiness and a sense of accomplishment to my life.  In the end I'm very blessed to be in a position that all my basic needs are being met.  At this point in my life that's all I can ask for.  I challenge all of you, along with myself, to think about what you're thankful for more often than just on Thanksgiving.  We all should be counting our blessings every day and thanking God that we have the heart and breath to do so!  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!