Joy of life.

As I stood waiting for the bus this morning a chill ran down my spine. I realized I was standing in an 8 x 10 square piece of concrete. The memory of living with another person in an area this size with no freedom to leave woke me up real quick!

Prison flashback.

Traumatic.

Personal.

Exhilarating.

Totally freeing.

My mind, at the bus stop, took me back to an ice cold morning in January. The day was about two weeks before my release. I promised myself that morning as I breathed in the frigid air that I would never forget the feeling in my body and mind. The complete and utter feeling of entrapment. No freedom to move. No freedom to just "be". I vowed then and there never to take anything, anyone, any moment for granted.

I now realize I have been concetrating on the negatives. I have been looking at the "doom and gloom" of my life. WHY? HOW? STOP!!!!

I am thankful for so many things.
I am so happy to be alive.
I am so happy to be free.

This morning was, yet another, wake up call to my soul.

I can't even begin to list the blessings in my life. The closeness to certain individuals. The happiness in seeing familiar and new faces everyday. Kisses from friends dropping me off at the bus stop. Arguements with old friends. The ability to step out on my patio to watch the sun rise without razored wire in the foreground. I 've realized, again, the simple things in life are the best. Smiles. Laughter. Tears. Joy. Hope. Disappointment. They are all GOOD things in my life.

In this process and journey I am on right now, I have to remember that it is always darkest before the storm.

If this is my storm, I am so lucky.

SO....Thank you to my special family. Thank you to my bitchy friends. Thank you to judgemental mentalities. Thank you for old lives that have passed into something new for everyone.

Thank you for the gift of my life.