This year has been full of ups and downs. I began the process of recovery from my spending addiction, paid off all my credit cards, and now consider myself in remission. Then my job went to hell, so I took another job, which also went to hell. In a little over three weeks, I will be unemployed and relying solely on my writing skills to pay my bills. And I’m terrified. But even now, after all the stress and tears and staying up all night worrying, I am thankful.

I am thankful for my son, who is growing up to be an amazing young man despite having a lunatic for a mother.

I am thankful for my home and the utilities that I have managed to keep turned on.

I am thankful that it has now been more than a year since I paid an overdraft fee or bounced a check.

I am thankful for my family, who try so hard to support me even when there’s no way they could understand.

And I am thankful for you. Each and every one of you who reads what I write and gets something out of it. You have no idea what joy I get from every email, comment, or conversation (except the ones where people call me names, but they don’t count).

I have a feeling my life is going to get worse before it gets better, but I am thankful today that there is still room for things to get worse. That I haven’t hit rock bottom. That I can see a way out, even though I’ll have to climb to get there.

I hope all of you have much to be thankful for today, and that you’re spending time with the people you love.