Finding Gratitude

Everyone thinks about gratitude on Thanksgiving, but that is about the farthest it goes. I know it bugs me when people only post the things they are grateful for from November 1 through November 27. Then they go back to complaining on  November 29th. It is kind of crazy really.

For a person who has bi-polar, it can be difficult to find gratitude. I joined a blog roll back in September for Suicide Awareness Day, and I was invited to blog roll for tomorrow.

USC’s Gratitude Campaign

1. Family

I know many people say they are thankful for their family, but my gratitude was pushed full into my face. I lost my children for 10 months and during those 10 months, my husband and I braved the fire. We passed the tests, we grew stronger, and we bonded together. Our relationship is stronger than it ever was and now that our children are home, my gratitude spills over.

2. REAL Friends

We learned in 10 short months who we could trust, who were only friends for appearances, and who we could truly rely on. We were very surprised where people ended up falling. The friends who are in my rely category know who they are ... There is NO doubt. We tell them as often as we can. They could have taken the time to turn their back and judge us, like many did, but they held firm and took our hands. They walked through the fire with us and helped heal the wounds when needed. I am so thankful to call them my friends.

Only a few are pictured!

3. Small blessings

I am thankful for small blessings. For the last three years, my husband and I have struggled financially. We had everything going the right way, so we decided to try to conceive. Succeeded, and then 8 weeks later my husband's checks were cut in half and I was out of work. We scrambled, worked payment plans, cut into our budget, and sought help.We expect to finally see the other side January 2014. We have been soooooo close the last few months but not just there. What has pushed us has been the small blessings we have received. One of those blessings came on Thanksgiving when we were gifted $50 to purchase a Thanksgiving meal for our family. It was courtesy of Scary Mommy & the Thanksgiving Project. We have every intention of being on the donating end next fall, to pass on the blessings that we have received.

Scary Mommy

So, what are you grateful for this year? How has this year changed your views? Let me know! There are so many more things I can add on here now that I have the grateful train moving. It is very true, positive thinking and smiles are quite contagious.