The heat came on today

 November is a month where we are supposed to find ways to be grateful about our lives. This morning, I heard the heat come on and I was grateful. I have been in places in my life where I didn't have the luxury of having heat. I have been in places in my life in constant fear that the heat would be shut off. I have been in places in my life where something as simple as hearing the heat come on, and feeling the comfort of warmth in our home, was something far off and not anything I would think would be true for me. 

One of the many beauty's of being in recovery from a substance use disorder and having lived a very different life, being grateful is pretty normal for me. The feeling of gratefulness for the heat coming on is commonplace. There are times, like right now in this moment, where I am very grateful for what I am able to do right now. The mere fact that I have the resources to type this is something I am very grateful for.

I have a home....not just any home, a nice home. It's not anything crazy fancy, we don't really want that. Yet, our home is inviting and comfortable. I think frequently about how amazing a home we have and how lucky I feel to have a home to call my own. Katrina and I are 100% in sync with the desire to have our home be a comfortable and inviting place.  

A computer and access to the internet to do all I do in my world.  I remember well not having a computer or access to the internet.  Or, in some spots, having a computer that barely functioned, and, having to go month to month hoping I would have the mean to pay for internet access.  In instances, having to borrow to keep it going. Without the help of many I would not be in the position I am today with something as simple as a laptop and consistent access to the internet. This might seem simplistic, but 2020 has truly shown how our society needs access to the internet for everything. I am grateful this isn't something I have to worry about in my life.  I know there are many who do.

I have income to support these simple things. Fortunate for our home we haven't lost our main sources of income in 2020. I know many have. I know many have suffered greatly with the loss of their needed financial means just to get by in life. We are truly fortunate in this regard. For us, we have been able to walk through all 2020 has thrown at the world and we are still ok financially.

2020 has given me pause to be grateful for a lot. I am most grateful for the people in my world that I get to interact with. I have a core group of friends who I have stayed connected with throughout the year. Without these relationships I know I wouldn't be sitting here typing how grateful I am for the simple things in life. I have struggled in 2020, as I am sure we all have. In times of struggle I have managed with the support of friends and family. That is truly what I am most grateful for in my life on a continual basis. Those relationships I have that I know I can lean on in time of need. 

Today, I am grateful that I have the simple things in life.  Those things I have not had in a not so distant past that I don't worry much about now.