Here we are again right up on the Holiday season. This Thursday we will celebrate Thanksgiving and I will also be celebrating my 29th birthday. In the spirit of both I write this. A lot of families have a tradition of going round the table so everyone can say what they are thankful for.

 I am so thankful to have a family that loves me and never gave up on me. In September of 2011 it will be 10 years since I was hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I know there are countless people in the world that have suffered from mental illness and consequently suffered alone without the support of family or friends. I feel so lucky to have had my family alongside me to fight this even when I did not have the wherewithal to fight it myself. I had friends that gave up on me, but my family never did. I don't think they ever will.

I'm thankful for everyday I have had in this 10 year period. My life might not be the life I expected but if I had my way in the early, dark days of my diagnosis I probably wouldn't be here right now. All the days between then and now were not full of rainbows and unicorns, but they got me here. Oddly, 10 years ago I thought my life was over. Now 10 years later I feel like it is just beginning. I have learned how to live with this disease and I don't let it railroad me. I am so Thankful for that.

I am very grateful to have found a mate that loves me for me, flaws and all. We have had many ups and downs in the four years (in February) that we have been together. I am so Thankful that we made a choice to work through the hard stuff and not give up when things got tough. Now I am with someone that not only loves me, but really knows me in a way that shocks me sometimes. He my boyfriend/fiancee, but he is also one of the best friends I have ever known. He cares about me in a way that no one ever has before, excluding family. I tried but failed to scare him off in the beginning and now I am so glad that he stuck around for the long haul.

You know, as I have grown older I have less and less friends. Oddly though it's not something that bothers me. There are three friends that I do have that I feel so lucky to turn to. I am so Thankful that Danna, Colleen and Kristin are a part of my life. They are treasures in my heart. I love them all and know that life would be so dreary with out them. They make having 3 friends, true friends, very rewarding. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

One last thing that I want to give thanks for is the fact that we moved to Conroe. I always said it would NEVER happen. I had so much anxiety surrounding the town I grew up in that it was awful to even think about.  Well, we have been here since July and now I wonder why we didn't do it sooner. I love living closer to my family and friends. I am thankful that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone!  

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