Why Gratitude?
So why are we talking about gratitude on a website that also talks about one of the most painful events a Daughter can experience?
Gratitude has quite literally pulled me out of the depths of a 32-year never-ending cycle of deep emotional pain and a repeating the same self-destructive patterns.
Gratitude has helped me see, even when it was just for a minute, that life can be different, and I have the power to make it so.
Gratitude has helped me refocus the pain I have carried with me all these years into a new way of living.
Gratitude has changed my perspective and my thoughts (a tricking-your-brain-of-sorts) and thus created deeper, more meaningful relationships with the people I care about.
Truth is, it's almost impossible to be grateful AND swirling in pain at the same time.
Gratitude has given me the freedom to move away from the loss of my Mom and to a place of being able to embrace the life she lived, the gifts she left behind and helped me to see how she lives on in me.
My Own Gratitude Wall ...
When I was 14, I lost my Mom. In the many years since, there are many people who have been there through the joy and the pain. Their love, friendship, laughter, acceptance, and guidance has been (and continues to be) the biggest light of my life. My cup runneth over and, for this, I am forever grateful.
Mom
Dad and Mom Sharyn
Mary Tyler
Chris Duehring
Steve and Erin Pearson
Andrew, Alyssa and Aidan Pearson
Norm Lamarre and Mike Downey
Karin Olson
Dawn, Pat and Brody Hannon
Shirley and Hugh Tyler
Deb Cozzone
Terry-Lynn Alpin
Kayla and Ben Olson
Jean and Joe Harrop
Carol DiCarlo and Paul Blanchette
Kim, Jordan and Austin Barlow
Ann Marie Frasier
Marilyn Pride
Elijah Olson
Nathan Olson
Gary Scott
Edla Olson
Margaret Robling
Jack Jones and Shawn Lundy
Barbara and Chuck Feldman
Joe Napolitano
Kim Ebner
Rich Mederios
Stephen Flaherty
Deb Bettencourt
Susan Raymond Conroy
Gretchen Schwab Abrhams
Rochelle, Nate, Nicole and Heather Ray
Kathleen, Bruce and CJ Brewer
Karen Altner
Jeff Steele
Joel Levinson
Hope Edelman
Ray Edwards
Brene Brown
Last, but certainly not least, thank you to all the Daughters out there who have lived through this experience, survived the pain and yet carried on … despite it all.
