It is so easy to get caught up in your symptoms and honestly start to feel sorry for yourself. When you have a chronic illness that causes you pain and exhaustion everyday it can consume a lot of your thoughts. I have come up with a way to combat those negative thoughts with something positive. Hence, I have decided that I’m going to write an open gratitude letter to someone every month. This letter will let the person know how much I appreciate them and in turn give me some positive feelings to focus on.
This month my gratitude letter is going to be to my mother:
Dear Mom,
First of all, I want to thank you so much for giving birth to me. Let’s be honest if that hadn’t of happened I wouldn’t be able to write this letter (lol). There are so many reasons I am grateful, but one of the reasons I am grateful for you is because of the support you give me. You are always there for me and now that I am an adult that really hasn’t changed at all. I like the way it just seems like you know when I just need you to listen and when I need your advice.
Sacrifices
Over the years, you have made many sacrifices for me. These sacrifices have been physical, emotional and financial. I won’t go into specifics but you know what they are, however I want to let you know, that I recognize them and appreciate them. You need to know that, these sacrifices gave me opportunities to learn something new, got me out of trouble and helped me grow emotionally and spiritually as a person.
Understanding
I know that you understand what I go through on a daily basis. As a mother myself I recognize how hard that must be for you. To watch your own child suffer and not be able to do a damn thing about it has to be one of the most helpless feelings in the world. I’m so sorry that you have to go through that. My gratitude for your presence in my life is too big to be measured so expressing it to the extent it is felt is impossible however in this letter I will attempt the impossible.
Strength
The strength that I have comes from you. Your example of picking yourself up after failure and disappointment has taught me how to do the same. Watching you navigate success has shown me that it is possible with hard work and determination. I learned how to be a mother by watching you. The fierce mama bear and tender loving mama bear I am is because those are exactly what you were to me.
No Really, Thank You
I want to thank you for always being there for me. Even though that seems like a given, I know it isn’t. Something I have learned first hand is that parents can walk away from their child at any moment, it’s the strong ones that stay. You showed me though that you would never leave me; for that I have gratitude that I can never really express. Everything I am and everything I do I owe to you and the love and foundation you gave me. I would NOT be able to rise above my illness if it was not for you and I love you more mom!
I know I need a Kleenex now, so you probably do as well. Now I challenge each person reading this now to write a gratitude letter to someone that has done something nice for you. It doesn’t have to be as big as what my mom has done for me. Maybe it was something small, like they ran an errand for you, in any case whatever it is write how much it meant to you. Let that person know how they made you feel. I promise you that it will give you and that person happiness. If you would like your letter to be considered for my monthly gratitude selection please submit your letter through the contact me button in the menu.
I want to hear your thoughts on the subject!