Thankful
a free-write experiment
in no particular order*
things I am thankful for this year:
no children — none of my children, I mean — are in a psychiatric hospital this year.
I am thankful for the therapists and medications that mean
none of my children are in a psychiatric hospital this year.
mental illness comes with a price;
it’s worth paying, if you can.
I am thankful for my therapist, and my husband’s therapist,
and our marriage counselor, and our family therapist.
the marriage, the family, that I thought was fracturing —
it has been a difficult year.
but the family that I thought was breaking
seems like it is going to survive after all.
I am grateful that my children are siblings who
greet each other each day
who seem to enjoy hanging out with each other
so much laughter!
who, when they are getting ready to go to bed
seek each other out
to hug, to say, ‘good night, i love you.’
[I did not have this with my siblings growing up
and, when I mention this about my children
my therapist says, ‘you cultivated that.’]
I am grateful that we are whole
this year, that we have survived
this year, so far
so good.
*why do we say this? probably to prevent hurt feelings.
what are you thankful for?
