All the Ways I’m Thankful I’m Sober

I’m thankful for knowing when to pause—to take a deep breath, to consciously reset.

I’m thankful for the sunlight coming into my room in the morning. I’m thankful for that room. I’m thankful for the birds I hear and hearing the sound of water running in the stream.

I’m thankful for the hot shower that hits me and reminds me I’m alive. I’m thankful for the clean towel and the clothes I have. I’m thankful to have a drawer to store those clothes and a place to call home.

I’m thankful to the people who make that house a home. I’m thankful to have loved ones that didn’t give up on me when I gave them every possible reason to give up. I’m thankful that in my worst moments, my loved ones had the strength to be their best.

I’m thankful for first chances and for second chances. I’m thankful for opportunities.

I’m thankful for the gift of vulnerability. I’m thankful for the courage to face the demons that plagued me. I’m thankful to have the strength to share those demons with the world and bring them to the light for everyone to see. I’m thankful that in the light, those demons wither and fade.

I’m thankful for those who knew when to push and when to pull. I’m thankful for those who walked this road before me and were wise enough to mark the trail for those who follow.

I’m thankful for those who saw in me what I was incapable of seeing. I’m thankful for those who have reached out to me, and that I had the bravery to accept their hand. I’m thankful for a chance to help those who are too scared to reach out at the moment.

I’m thankful for the traffic. Yeah, traffic—because I’m thankful that I have enough perspective in my life now to know what’s within my control and what’s not. I’m also thankful that I don’t sweat the things I cannot control, and I know the difference between the two.

I’m thankful that I have been able to take my worst moments in life and turn them into a gift.

I’m thankful that shame, anger, fear, and sadness have been replaced with experience, strength, and hope.

I’m thankful that the right people, in the right place, at the right time seemed to magically appear. I’m thankful that I didn’t keep my eyes closed so long that I missed it.

I’m thankful that darkness always turns to light. I’m thankful for being able to see something wonderful and beautiful in everything life offers. I’m thankful that the same lesson that taught me how to put down the bottle has taught me how to put down my shield: being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

I’m thankful for you reading this. I’m thankful that it might make you pause for one second and appreciate this moment, right now.

I’m thankful to be alive in every sense of the word.

Happy Thanksgiving.