“True forgiveness is when you can say, “Thank you for that experience.”  ― Oprah Winfrey

This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, but I’m not Oprah Winfrey.  I’m not ready to say “thank you” to the narcissist I used to know or the Universe that’s sent some pretty rancid shit my way.  HOWEVER, there are plenty of things that I *am* thankful for!  Seems an appropriate time of year to reflect.  We can all use a little more gratitude in our lives—am I right?!

• I am grateful that I was born in the United States of America to a middle-class family. Pure luck and I know it.  I enjoy a privilege that I’ve never fully appreciated.  I’m trying to, now, though. Thankful.

• I am grateful that I have two healthy kiddos. Sure, we’ve had some struggles with depression in this household, but overall, I don’t have to worry about their performance in school or experimenting with alcohol, drugs, bullying, etc. Thankful.

• I am grateful that my ex and I have a civil, cordial relationship. I’ve heard of many nightmare breakups/divorces, and I have none of that.  We got divorced for a reason, but we rock the co-parenting thing. Thankful.

• I am grateful that I grew up, while without a mom, with loving siblings and a terrific dad. Yeah, my mom dying when I was 13 really screwed with me, but no history of emotional, physical, sexual abuse in my childhood.  I have many, many patients who cannot say the same thing. Thankful.

• I am grateful that I have a job that I ADORE. I was born to be a psych nurse.  It took me a long time to get there and it was a winding path, but I’m so happy to have arrived on Main Six.  No, it’s not perfect, but I work with people who genuinely love this population. Thankful.

• I am grateful that we have a place to call our own. Being a homeowner is a real pain in the ass, but my girls love having a place to call home, I absolutely worship the pool in the summer, and I’m glad I was able to swing buying this condo.  (Now, if I had a working dryer, I’d be over the moon, but I digress…)  Thankful.

• I am grateful that I have a group of friends that I’ve known since high school that, while we are all in wildly different places in our lives, can and have been there for me through thick and thin. I know I’ve changed so much since they knew me way back when and our views on many subjects are different, now, but they still love me and support me.  I know this to my core.  I love them back just as fiercely. Thankful.

• I am grateful that I am, overall, a pretty healthy chick. For the amount of exercise and eating right that I DON’T do, I’m damn lucky that I’m not on any medications or have any serious illnesses/diseases.  Yes, I deal with depression.  Always have and probably always will on some level.  But right now I’m hanging in there. Thankful.

• I am grateful to be moving onwards and upwards with my life. After several years in what I now realize was an extremely unhealthy relationship, I’m putting back together the pieces of my soul and IT IS GOOD.  There is still much healing to take place, but going back to school and dipping my toes back into the dating pond have reminded me that I AM doing this.  I’m getting there.  I’m making progress.  Still have days where I cry, still have moments that feel overwhelming, but moving forwards. Thankful.

So in spite of election crap that STILL fills my Facebook feed (using the “unfollow” tool liberally these days), and in spite of mean people, and in spite of SNOW on the ground, there is still much to be thankful for.

“I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.”  ― e.e. cummings