Being Thankful

Thanksgiving is this Thursday. I’ll celebrate, but it won’t be anything envisioned by Normal Rockwell. 

I’ll celebrate by remembering that I graduated college with degrees in journalism and biology although I wasn’t allowed to take any math or science classes in high school.

I’ll celebrate by remembering I put myself through law school, graduated, passed the bar exam, ran my own practice, took another bar exam, and drove 2000 miles across the US to work in the New Mexico Public Defender Department.

I’ll celebrate by remembering I’m working on healing from 16 years of child abuse followed by 18 years of adult abuse.

I’ll celebrate finally being able to feel the horror of what I endured growing up.

I’ll celebrate by remembering that every time I wanted to kill myself, I lived.

I’ll celebrate by remembering I’ve only been married once – 53 years and still married.

I’ll celebrate rate by realizing how big an accomplishment my life has been. A lesser person would have died long ago.