Count your blessings

One of the things that has come to light during the past nine, almost ten months, is that I have a lot going for me. I was listening to the chorus of my high school rehearse, and they are singing my wedding song in the concert. It brought me back to a place when my body was fully functioning and I was . . . younger. So, here is a brief counting of my blessings:

1. I have a wife that I love more than any words can say. She is my rock. If it weren't for her, I would be some boat just floating in the middle of a hurricane (and I am talking "Perfect Storm" hurricane here).

2. I have three amazing children. They are gifts that brighten my mood on a daily basis. They are blessings from the heavens.

3. I have two amazing parents who support me and respect what I do. I tell my students that your parents will always be your parents, and I happened to get lucky with the pair that I got.

4. I have incredible in-laws (and that includes my sister-in-law and brother-in-law). They treat me like part of their family without hesitation. I know some people are not so lucky.

5. I love to teach. My job is a passion. There are plenty of people who roll out of bed, into their car, and drive for a countless number of miles and hate what they do. I love what I do. My students are not always perfect (of course nobody is). I can't even say that I never have a bad day with them, but they are good people deep down. Many of them are struggling to find how they are going to live their lives once they leave the safety of this "prison" as they call it. For a prison, there are many who seem to want to stick around. I just hope I can play a small part in their journey.

6. I have amazing friends. One of my closest friends sent me an email today wishing me a happy birthday and just saying some remarkable things. This friend is no stranger to struggles and health problems - Her family is going through quite a fair number of them now - but she still tried to make ME feel better.

7. I find new ways to make the day work for me. I am very thankful that I can find ways to work with the pain, with the struggles, with the memory and concentration issues.

I never know what the next day will bring. Some of the days that are ahead will be rosy, and there will be days that I will have more thorns than rose. I know this. I am trying to embrace this. The seven things above (which is only portion of a list I could generate) help me make my journey in the new world in which I am exploring.