With addiction in my family tree, Thanksgiving has the potential for myriad emotions: trepidation, joy, chaos or gratitude, to name a few. Last year, with several years of recovery in our wake, I made note of my many blessings. I try to say a prayer of gratitude every night before hitting the sack, but with Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I’d like to look back on what I wrote down last year about the holiday, which holds potential for both joy and chaos…if I let it.
I am thankful that my son has claimed a life of recovery, one day at a time.
I am thankful that people are beginning to understand addiction as a disease of the brain.
I am thankful that I discovered Al-Anon.
I am thankful for the friends that addiction has ushered into my life.
I am thankful for the opportunity to support others though their own child’s addiction.
I am thankful that my marriage survived our son’s illness.
I am thankful that I have had the resources to help support my son’s recovery.
I am thankful that my faith sustained me.
And thanks to addiction, I am appreciative of the perspective I’ve gained about what really counts in life.
Count your blessings…..and please share with our readers what you are thankful for.
