I'm a week late, but I couldn't sleep. So here are my thoughts.

I'm truly thankful for the love of God that I have felt since I was a child. I often forget this in the short term, but it is something that is always with me if I decide to pay attention. I am beloved. I am very special.

I'm thankful for my nature, my personality with all it's quirks. I'm thankful for the ability to articulate what I am thinking or feeling. I'm thankful for my courage. I'm thankful for my sense of humor.

I'm thankful for the people who love me, who see what is worthy and beautiful about my presence even when I don't. 

I'm thankful for my children. Who I love. Who are excellent teachers.

I'm thankful for my husband, who is a kind and decent human and a wonderful father. I'm thankful that he chooses to love me. I'm thankful for the home he provided for us. I'm thankful for the ways in which he holds us together. I'm thankful that he is Irish and that I get to visit a place that is so ruggedly beautiful each year. I'm thankful for the safety and freedom I feel when I am there.

I'm thankful for my students, who I love helping. I'm thankful for the way they love me back. I'm thankful for the talents I've been given that help me connect with them. I'm thankful to have a job that allows me to help others and pays well.

I'm thankful for my therapist and my doctors who I believe truly care about helping me--and it's the thought that counts. 

I'm thankful for my parents because they tried the best they could. I'm thankful for my birth mother who loved me the best she could, without her choice I would not have had my adoptive grandparents, whom l love with all my heart even though they are deceased.

I'm thankful for my mother in law who is the sweetest, most lovely woman. I'm thankful that she prays for me every day. I'm thankful for her companionship when we are together. I just love her.  I'm thankful to be part of a big family.

I'm thankful for my ability to heal, to move forward from horrible, heartbreaking circumstances and still retain my faith and my ability to love others. I'm thankful for that Grace. 

I'm thankful the the knowledge I gained since discovering that what was going on with me was an eating disorder. I'm thankful for the days when I think clearly and eat healthy. 

I'm thankful I found this site and read Joanna's book. I'm thankful for the wisdom and experiences shared.