Wanted to post just to let you all know how much I appreciate this
group!! Thank you so much for the opportunity to be here and for
being such a supportive community!! I hope you are all doing well and
had a Happy Thanksgiving, first few months of December!!!! I know how
tough the holiday season can be, so my thoughts and well wishes are
with each of you.

I haven't posted in a while, as my 3D world has been pretty intense -
mid terms and end of term in graduate school, keeping up with my 4
year old and 8 month old, working PT, dealing w/huge issues in
therapy, and trying to keep my house from falling apart around me
and/or harboring ecoli.

I tend to isolate a bit until I feel slightly more together and
composed/able to interact with the real world without falling apart.
Thus the reason for my lack of posts. It seems as though it has been
rather quiet here recently anyway.....

Fortunately, things are much calmer now! I'm experiencing a bit of a
reprieve from the craziness of the past month or so, for which I am
sooooooooo grateful!!!

I got a newsletter a couple of days ago from a professional
organization I belong to with a game in it that I'd like to share, if
you all are willing - you take two minutes and list all of the things
for which you are grateful.

I'll start...Maya Angelou's poetry and words, my two adorable
children, the time I am able to be at home with them, choosing to stay
alive and reach out for help when my brain was trying to convince me I
really wanted to die, my amazing/supportive husband, my therapist,
this group, my job, being able to go back to school, a recent
opportunity to make a career change that will allow me to help people
and give back to those that suffer because of trauma, my home, my
safety. I'm out of time.

The newsletter was perfect timing for me, following my recent climb
out of severe depression and despair, to re-orient me to others and
the things I do have in my life that are good and sources of
strength. And I am really so grateful to be getting to the other side
of this thing, since Christmas is only a few weeks away and can be
such a magical time with two children.

Sending warmth, peace, hugs, and healing to each of you!