It was September 12, 2001 and I could not get out of my bed. I was in Manhattan the day before and witnessed the World Trade Center burning; people leaping to their deaths and then the towers crashing to the ground.

 

As with many of us that day in Manhattan, we were trapped and couldn't get off the island until later that evening. So for most of the day, I ended up wandering aimlessly through lower Manhattan trying to help others. As you can image, it was a long day.

 

I finally made it home and crashed in my bed. Although the next day was a beautiful day, I couldn't get out of bed. Eventually (it could even have been the next day, I'm not sure) a close friend came by and got me out of the house.

 

I began to move around, and then thought to call my therapist. I knew I had to talk about the shock and being paralyzed. I called her first. We had a phone session and I told her how I didn't want to get out of bed. She asked me if I could write 10 things that I am grateful for right then and there. It was hard at first, but eventually I was able to. Then she instructed me to do the same the next day before I got out of bed.

 

I saw her that day and then, for the next 30 days before getting out of bed, I wrote 10 different things each day that I was grateful about. Along with my spiritual practice, this was a tremendous help in enabling me to move from a deep post-traumatic state to one in which I was able to function each day more and more.

 

What I will not get into depth about was that 9-11 triggered all the PTS I had worked on for 15 years with this therapist. This in itself was depressing. But within a short time I came to understand that this was a normal pattern for PTS. Today, because of my spiritual practice, my gratitude, and the work I did back then with my therapist, life altering events that have happened since then no longer trigger me in that. I see it, understand it and, most times, I am able to process it and accept it. When I can't, I let go and let God take it from me.

 

Gratitude was the first step, though. It was an important part of my early journey in Recovery and still is an essential part of my spiritual program today.

 

I would like to challenge you to write 10 different things you are grateful for this week, then again next week. Maybe you can even do three weeks...maybe more. It would be inspiring for me to see them. If you would like to share them with me, send them to Michael@ah-man.com. So that I don't overlook your email, please put in the subject line: 10 Things.

 

In the Ah-Man Blog this month, I will share with you quotes from others concerning the importance of gratitude. I hope you join me in taking them to heart and experiencing how their quotes and gratitude personally affects each of us.

 

I am grateful for having all of you in my life. Thank you!

 

Namaste,

Michael

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