Living with Gratitude

In my drinking days, I took almost everything for granted. All I cared about was me, and how fucked up I could get. My mind was never on the present moment but on whether I had enough alcohol or cocaine to get me through the night. This frame of mind hijacked any true enjoyment from whatever I was doing. Every thought and action ultimately had some selfish motivation. This, of course, ruined a lot of my relationships. Nobody wants to be around a selfish, preoccupied butthole! It wasn’t until I stopped drinking that I realized just how much I sucked as a human. When I finally acknowledged that the world, and everybody in it, didn't owe me a goddamn thing, It completely changed my thoughts and actions toward myself and others. Every gesture of kindness from family, friends, or strangers is truly a gift. It was life-changing when I learned to appreciate all the warmth and love I receive.

I will never take anything or anyone for granted ever again. Now that I can see through a lens of gratitude, there is no way I would ever jeopardize my relationships with alcohol or any other destructive habit. Think of having a kitten or puppy in your care. They are fragile, gentle, and need attention, love, and compassion. The same is true with your interaction with everything else. It needs to be nurtured like a garden needs water. To maintain the connections in your life, you must come to terms with how fragile and precious they are. It’s a gift you will never want to take for granted once you open your eyes to it. Revere any source of light that penetrates the darkness.

Practicing gratitude and awareness of even the most minor pleasures, acts of kindness, and conveniences is grounding. It is the foundation for building a better self and stronger relationships. This world doesn’t owe us a thing. We should never expect but be thankful to receive and always be willing to contribute to the greater good and well-being of others. Be grateful for everything in your life. Everything else will flow naturally once you have gratitude in your heart.

Read more about my life and personal journey out of the grips of alcohol - Last Call, Stupid available now on Amazon.