A profound sense of gratitude for T has hit me from time to time, although my T has always been really good about helping me understand that I am the one doing the work, not her.

I also have felt gratitude based on realizing that experiencing and healing from the trauma I experienced gave me skills and insights I would not have developed anyway, and these have enabled me to be a more sensitive husband and father and to work with my music students in a more sensitive way. I wouldn't be who I am now if I hadn't both had these experiences and put in the work to heal from them. And I'm better than I could have ever been otherwise. I wouldn't be married or have children or be raising them in the way I am if neither of these things had ever happened.