Tears of Gratitude
Some days knock the wind right out of you. Today was one of those days for me. The kind of day that leaves you drained, questioning your strength, and teetering on the edge of giving up.
From the moment I opened my eyes, the weight of everything going on in my life just got the better of me. I got laid off. My divorce still looms over my head like a dark cloud. And, to top it off, the heat on my first floor isn’t working. I tried troubleshooting it myself but failed, which means I’ll have to work with my ex—someone I have a hard time believing won’t exploit the situation for his own pleasure.
Then there’s my best friend. Telling him I can no longer visit feels like another loss. We were all so excited for the visit. It was just one of those days where everything felt impossibly heavy, where I wanted to crumble under the weight, let the darkness win, and just give in.
But then, something happened.
In the middle of all that darkness, I cried. Not only out of sadness or defeat, but gratitude. Yes, gratitude.
I thought about the people who’ve lifted me up when I couldn’t lift myself. The ones who reminded me of who I am, even when I couldn’t see it. They’ve held the mirror up and shown me the light inside me, piercing through the fog. They’ve been my lifeline, my compass, my reminder that I am still here. Still fighting. Still worthy.
And in those tears of gratitude, I felt something else—hope. Hope that I’ll be okay. Hope that one day I’ll have the strength to be that same light for someone else. Because that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? To hold each other up. To pay it forward. To let human kindness prevail, no matter how dark the world gets.
So, here’s to them—my tribe, my saving grace, my angels in disguise. I am eternally grateful for you. And to anyone out there who feels like they’re drowning, let me be your voice in the storm: You are not alone.
We will get through this. Together.
- The Not So Common Gal
From the moment I opened my eyes, the weight of everything going on in my life just got the better of me. I got laid off. My divorce still looms over my head like a dark cloud. And, to top it off, the heat on my first floor isn’t working. I tried troubleshooting it myself but failed, which means I’ll have to work with my ex—someone I have a hard time believing won’t exploit the situation for his own pleasure.
Then there’s my best friend. Telling him I can no longer visit feels like another loss. We were all so excited for the visit. It was just one of those days where everything felt impossibly heavy, where I wanted to crumble under the weight, let the darkness win, and just give in.
But then, something happened.
In the middle of all that darkness, I cried. Not only out of sadness or defeat, but gratitude. Yes, gratitude.
I thought about the people who’ve lifted me up when I couldn’t lift myself. The ones who reminded me of who I am, even when I couldn’t see it. They’ve held the mirror up and shown me the light inside me, piercing through the fog. They’ve been my lifeline, my compass, my reminder that I am still here. Still fighting. Still worthy.
And in those tears of gratitude, I felt something else—hope. Hope that I’ll be okay. Hope that one day I’ll have the strength to be that same light for someone else. Because that’s what we’re here for, isn’t it? To hold each other up. To pay it forward. To let human kindness prevail, no matter how dark the world gets.
So, here’s to them—my tribe, my saving grace, my angels in disguise. I am eternally grateful for you. And to anyone out there who feels like they’re drowning, let me be your voice in the storm: You are not alone.
We will get through this. Together.
- The Not So Common Gal