[BamaSurvivor]

Tonight in our IOP meeting, we were asked to list everything we're grateful for. Whether it be the small things in life, the larger things in life, or even materialistic things. We all have something to be grateful for and part of our recovery is being grateful. What do you do when you're grateful for something? You take care of what it is you're grateful for. So I figured I'd ask the same question that was asked of me to you guys.

What are you grateful for today?

I'm grateful to be alive. There's so many times I think I should have been dead because of where my addiction was taking me, but my HP had a different plan for me and brought me through it.

I'm grateful to my HP for loving me unconditionally and giving me chance after chance and never giving up on me when I had given up on myself.

I'm grateful to my friends here at Psych Central for sticking by my side and showing me love and support and kicking me in the hiney when I refused to see the light.

I'm grateful for having a roof over my head. I've lived in the streets and it's not a fun place to be. To be able to lay my head down on a warm pillow in a warm bed each night makes me realize how blessed I truely am.

I'm grateful for a week and two days clean from the drugs I was putting in my body everyday. A week and two days may not be long to some, but to me it's been an eternity and I'm so proud of myself. I honestly didn't think I could stay clean this long this time around.

I'm grateful to my IOP group. Although we've had some problems and things have gotten rocky a few times, I love each one of them and they've helped me beyond belief. Without them, I wouldn't even have attempted to try staying clean.

Most of all, I'm grateful for the struggles in my life and I'm grateful for all that I've been through so far in my life. I've realized God didn't cause harm on me when I wasn't at fault and that he allowed me to have a choice in my life as to what I do with my life and every single thing I've been through in life, has made me into the person I am today. Without those struggles, without those trials and tribulations, I wouldn't be who I am now and although I make mistakes and I don't always do the right thing, I think I'm a decent person and I'm striving to become an even better person.

I'm grateful for my godchildren. They help complete me.

I'm grateful for the NA meetings. They have truely been god sent to me.

I'm grateful for my mom. She's been a huge part of my life and will always be.

The list could go on forever, but I'll stop for now. May post more later!

[Raynaadi]

So much......

I'm greatful for the fact that I won't wake up hungover to go to my family's tomorrow.

I won't have to "maintanence drink" all through dinner only to hit the bar or the case as soon as I can say bye to the family.

I get to spend my first Thanksgiving completely aware and full of love.

That my homegroup is puting on a Thanksgiving alcothon, so I can hit a meeting before, during and after the family.

That I have a huge extended family now to share the holidays with.

That I get the day off paid, because I have a job with holiday pay.

That I get to go a last minute commitee meeting for ASCYPAA tonight and do some more service work before the holiday.

That I can be greatful for my life today, and truly mean it. That I can stand up and say that I love myself and my life and truly mean it, is completely amazing for me.

That I have these forums to share my life with people who live in my computer, yet who are extended family as well, and who mean so much to me.

That Bama posted this thread, I had yet to made a gratitude list. Thanks Bama! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

being alive. - a 480 pound guy tried his best to kill me and for some reason I'm still here, I was in two car accidents and I'm still here, I have a kidney desease in which I was supposed to have been dead within 4 years of diagnosis and Im still here, I've been diagnosed with cancer and am still here when other relatives with this cancer are gone, got pregnant with a child I was told Id die giving birth to if I ever got pregnant and I'm still here, I can't even count how many suicide attempts I have been brought back from, and Im still here. So like I told my son when he was worried I would die while he was in foster care the first time - Im going to be here until I turn 100 and have taught his children how to annoy him with straw whistles and their kids to annoy him and their parents withstraw whistles and their kids and their kids and on and on and on. I have been very lucky in not dieing and am now trying my best to make my life count by looking for the good things this life has to offer me and why I am still here after all that.

[partlycloudy]

Amassing 3 months' sobriety (as of the 20th). Feeling more confident about dealing with my triggers, cautious to keep my guard up at the same time. Trying new activities in place of sitting around wasted - it sure is a longer day than it used to be!!
Grateful to be able to experience this at all.
pc

[misty]

Grateful that I can stomach reading the word grateful today, for God/Great Spirit being so graciouse, that I am not so full of shame, guilt and remorse. That I am able to learn truth and how not to continue to live in the lies. To know that I do not have to please anyone but one who is above all understanding.
skylrks

[BamaSurvivor]

Awesome things to be grateful for, everyone. Thanks for posting!