Sometimes You Have To Move On And Leave The Past Behind

For years I have battled and fought hard not to get lost in the struggles of my day to day life.

Many years ago, I was inspired by something Betsy Baker shared with the Ankylosing Spondylitis community.

It got me to thinking. ( Dangerous, I know!)

Her inspiration resulted in the creation of “My Garden of Gratitude” blog. I decided I would write about something positive or that I was grateful for every day. So, during the times I was struggling I could go back and reflect on the beautiful things in my life.

But in November 2012 my world changed forever. I was no longer the same person I had always been. It ended up being a long and difficult journey to glue myself back together, but piece by piece, tear by tear I began to reconstruct myself. I've made several halfhearted attempts to restart that blog, but it's doesn't give me the same gift it did in the beginning.

I will admit I am regretful that I didn’t continue with the original blog, but pain and darkness was the only light I could see during that time.

Earlier this week, I decided to create a blog that would hold a little bit of everything and could think of no better place than to start my new "Garden of Gratitude." (This Blog was originally called A Peek Into My Soul but I changed it in 2023 to CookieHasAS)

Today, I have decided to take Gratitude by the Horns! I am going to ride that beast until I get thrown off, stomped on or dragged around the arena of life! So, take that tough times, difficulties, struggles, tragedies and anything else you want to throw my way. I am and will always be grateful for EVERY single difficult, wonderful, hurtful, beautiful, devastating and enjoy full moment of my life!

So today starts a new beginning for me....

You grow what you feed.... I used this phrase yesterday in response to all that is going on in the world...

Today I realized that is what I used for the original post of My Garden of Gratitude.

Today is a day of reflections and moving forward.

Today I am trying to really find gratitude in each day, and for that I am grateful.