Grateful

I am in a place where I have started to appreciate the genuine nature of my friends and family.  Sometimes it takes traumatic experiences to get into that head space but I am thankful for it.  I do truly believe that the hardships that I have endured this past year have given me the strength and courage to find myself.  I almost lost myself.  I almost got so wrapped up and scared and cowering in a dark corner... I felt so alone.  Part of it was me and I can see that now.  By allowing things to happen in my life I wasn't taking care of myself.  I wasn't respecting myself.  I wouldn't EVER make someone important in my life feel like that, so why was it ok to make myself feel like that?  The reason was, I didn't find myself important.  I felt like as long as everyone else was happy that I would be too.  That is COMPLETE AND UTTER BULLSHIT!  I have to look out for me and take care of myself before fully being able to care for those I love.  It's been a hard lesson to learn and I'm still going to make mistakes but I will keep on learning and be a better person in the process.