Let me see…today was a super cool day for me at my NAMI CONNECTIONS GROUP (National Alliance for Mental Illness)…Our meetings last an hour and a half…we have a 1-2 minute “Check In” where all 14 of us let the other members know how our week was, and how we are doing NOW.
Then, after check-in, the group facilitator (of which I am one but I was not on duty today) calls on as many people as time allows. Usually we get to 8-10 people, and usually we start with the person in the most urgent need…Today, I spoke my piece at check-in time and simply asked for time. Somewhat surprisingly, I was the first person the facilitator called on, although I didn’t seem to be the “person in most need,” I had asked for the floor, whenever!
In my check-in, I spoke of how the biggest word in my vocabulary recently has been GRATITUDE…I am ever so grateful to this group—a place where I have shared my good times and bad, and how when I have had suicidal ideation—and expressed it to this group—they have BEEN THERE for me. I went on to tell them that I am in a very good head and heart space at this time, and how gratitude was playing a supreme role in my development!. I went on to add that I also see AWARENESS as an ally at this time in my life…being aware of all the blessings I have received from this group and my family and other friends.
I tell you, gratitude is where it is at! I am just basking in Gratitude as I write to you right now!! I have received love and kindness as I have reached out to my family members—talking to two brothers and a sister as I had my “pre-NAMI” breakfast at my favorite restaurant, Miss Katie’s Diner (MKD) this morning. It’s not hard for me to exclaim how wonderful my brothers and sisters are to me—they KNOW me and CHERISH me, as I do them!! Funny how they knew I’d be calling from MKD this morning…I sometimes send them a photo of MKD so that they know about the great surroundings I am calling from!
I feel so blessed—of course I called my x-wife and great friend Sandra…she is ever a part of my social landscape! For a divorced couple, we surely have been blessed with a mutually-supportive relationship! We see eye to eye and heart to heart! I don’t know who I would be or where I would be without her love!
I feel so blessed to have you, my blog-readers, to share my life with. I can only do so much journaling until I get tired of talking to myself…and I can come to you and share! I tell you that my life was surely enRICHed by the feedback I got from my NAMI group members today. It was the most positive and uplifting time, as I was affirmed for just being myself—a grateful, positive influence on the meeting. For it was a very positive and affirming meeting for all the members! I was honored to be the first to be called on and to be a light in the darkness for my friends.
I didn’t get much sleep last night…for some reason I was compelled to seek out the YOU TUBE escape and watched plenty of videos. But tonight I will sleep like a baby because I am at peace with my day and with my life. Thanks for being there for me!!