Grateful for the Life I Have

Dear life, I know we haven't always gotten along,

Some days I barely had the strength to carry on.

But looking at the man I've become today,

I wouldn't trade this life or the lessons along the way.

I've got scars on my body, stories on my skin,

Battles that I lost and wars I had to win.

Some scars you can see, others buried in my chest,

Memories that haunt me when I'm trying to rest.

I've cried behind smiles, fought storms in my head,

Carried heavy feelings and words I never said.

But every single morning when the sunlight breaks through,

I'm reminded there's a reason I made it through.

I've lost some people, watched others walk away,

But I'm thankful for the ones who chose to stay.

For every hand that held me when I couldn't stand,

For every heart that loved this imperfect man.

So thank you for the life I have today,

For every little blessing that came my way.

For the love, the laughter, the tears I've cried,

For the people standing by my side.

I may be scarred, but I'm still whole,

Still got fire burning in my soul.

I wouldn't erase the roads I've traveled through,

'Cause they brought me to a life I'm grateful to live.

Thank you to my family, my brothers and my friends,

The ones who showed me love when I was near the end.

To the soldiers beside me, the memories we've made,

And the family I found through the price that we paid.

To the little boy I was, scared of what he'd become,

Look at us now, son, we ain't finished, we're not done.

We've got dreams worth chasing and a future shining bright,

And a little boy who looks up to us to show him what's right.

Thank you for the quiet nights, the sunsets and the rain,

For teaching me that happiness can grow beside the pain.

I don't need a perfect world or everything to go my way,

Just another chance to love the life I'm living today.

I forgive the days that broke me.

I embrace the scars I carry.

I thank the people who saved me,

Even when they didn't know I needed saving.

I'm not who I used to be,

And that's something beautiful to me.

THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE I HAVE TODAY!

For every storm that didn't wash my dreams away!

For every heartbeat, every second I get,

For the love I've found and the souls I've met!

These scars don't define the man inside,

They're proof I kept living, proof I survived!

And if tomorrow brings another mountain to climb,

I'll be thankful that this beautiful life is mine!

I'm still healing.

I'm still learning.

I'm still becoming.

And for the first time in a long time…

I'm not just thankful that I survived.

I'm thankful that I'm alive. ❤