Good twist Blondie.... It was enlightening for me to put a list of what I have survived because it reminded me of how strong I have become as a consequence of those times. It reminded me that I am an overcomer because of the things that I have survived. My list played it pretty safe since I avoided some of the hardest stuff I lived through but it was good therapy for me just the same.

So lets go to the next step with your idea about goals accomplished.... that might be harder actually for all the reasons you indicated. Part of recovery is coming to terms with those things that have contributed to some of our mental illness symptoms. The key is always to not let our illness or our past define who we are today and who we are becoming. It takes facing them head on to be able to move past them. At least it has worked that way for me. I've been stable now for nearly 2 months but I'm still having to pinch myself everyday to make sure I'm not dreaming.

Eeks!! I think I'm stalling... let's see... goals accomplished...

Motherhood... i thought it would elude me but at 49 my precious son was born and purpose was restored in my life
Cultural Identity.... learned more about my native ancestry, was accepted into my hereditary community and was taught some of our traditional ways
Fashion Designer... received training, earned industry recognition, achieved success on my terms
Public Administration... received education and enjoyed a work environment that allowed me to apply mainstream theory in a culturally modified way
Teacher.... shared my skills and knowledge with others
Mentor... became someone people come to for advice
Travelling.... visited and living in many different countries and learned about cultures foreign to my own
Spirituality.... came to the place where I knew Creator and have learned to walk everyday in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving
Athletics.... competed and won provincial badminton title, competed in provincial field hockey, had the rep as the 2nd best skier on the lake...next to my brother... and regulary beat the boys on the tennis court.... lol
Friendships... maintain contact with childhood friends, work buddies and other friends new and old
Misc.... worked for a summer on a Gill-net fishing boat, quit an addiction, lost 40 lbs, walked across a suspension bridge, logged 100 hours flying a small cessna plane -- never finished ground school

Hey Blondie... you're right that was fun!!! I'm not a losser after all!!! Just joking. But it does make me wonder why I listen to such voices sometimes. Guess that's why they call it mental illness. Doesn't make sense when we view the world or ourselves in a negative light.... but it does happen. I'm going to copy this list for those days when I'm doubting my accomplishments. Sure there are lots of things I would have wanted to be on that list but I'm not going to let it tear me down any more.

Ok... I'm on a roll... let me go the next step and state some goals yet to be...

Quit smoking -- D... are we buddies on this???
Get fit -- start playing tennis this summer and maybe water ski again... eeks!!!
Stablize my income
Put a new roof on my house
Redo the drive way
Fix up my truck
See my son graduate from HS, University... marry and bless me with a grandkid or two

I deliberately avoided mental health welness related goals. They go without saying but I'll add them anyways.... stablize my sleep habits, avoid isolation, meditate away my anxiety, ask for help when I need it, be honest with my caregivers and expect their best for me, love myself enough to want to be well.

phew... I'm done. Good stuff.... who's next....

Thanks Blondie.... I needed that.