One Day At A Time.

For our family today, marks the end of something great, and the beginning of something new.

It is our daughters last day at Primary School. When I think of the nervous, shy little girl that started school all those years ago, and see the beautiful, confident, fun loving, articulate young lady that she is today, I am humbled and inspired.

Our girl has had to overcome a lot in her first 11 years! She had a Statement Of Special Educational Needs at age four. It was very obvious that mainstream schooling was not appropriate for her as she had a severe speech and language disorder. At reception age she attended a specialist unit that taught her how to communicate. She still has some residual difficulties but overall she has progressed and exceeded all expectations.
So today was a celebration day for all she has achieved.
When I think about all the meetings and appointments we had to attend, the endless hours of speech therapy. The extra care needed when parenting a special needs child. If I was able to look in the future 7 years ago and see the effort, the heartbreak, the tears, and worry. The fighting to get her the provision that she needed and deserved. If I could see all that. I would have crumbled.I wouldn't know where to start. What to do first. I would be buried under the pressure and emotional toll.

Today, however, is a celebration day. A day we have captured on film to remember forever.
The smiles and tears of triumph.

We got to today, to this celebration, through all the difficulties.
One day at a time.

We got through all the struggle, one day at a time and this brings me enormous peace.

Recovery from depression and mental illness, is hard. It is tough, it involves lots of tears, lots of meetings with Doctors and professionals. It involves getting up, getting on with the day, even when your not sure you can survive the next hour. It involves pain and pushing through discomfort. But, you only have to do it, one day at a time. Sometimes one whole day is just too much. In those times, I am learning to pay attention to this very moment.

This very second.

I am learning to "make the next right decision". All you need to concern yourself with is, what you are doing right now, and what you need to do to stay safe or to comfort yourself.

Make the next right decision.

When we break down what can feel like the biggest mountain of recovery, into one moment at a time intervals. Anything is possible. You can only get to that mountain top, one step at a time.
One minute at a time.
One hour at a time.
One day at a time.

I believe that a Victory, Celebratory day is already ours because we have already made it this far!
We have made it this far and if we stay in the moment we can rebuild a life for ourselves. As we start to appreciate how far we have come and what strength and determination that took!
We can take hold of that and let it lead us into a future with hope.