Gratitude

I'm 31 years clean and sober, and yesterday I found out that a biopsy I had came back as malignant. I'm trying to remember that I didn't have a bad day but a bad moment, and that I have survived worse moments and that I will survive this.

I woke up this morning and after my usual morning routine, I made a gratitude list. I could focus on what is going wrong, but concentrating on what is going well puts me in a better mood.

If you woke up breathing, that's something to be grateful for. If you are going to work, a job and income is something to be grateful for. If you are driving to work, you have a car, and that is something to be grateful for. You could be dead, or unemployed, or walking.

It's not denying the negative but focusing on the positive. If you don't like the view then look out a different window. Being grateful doesn't mean you are satisfied and don't want more, but what you have is a place to start.

Gratitude is acceptance in action.