Publisher’s Note

By Barbara Nicholson Brown

Before my journey in recovery began, gratitude was a foreign concept. With a victim mindset, my view of the world was distorted. I was a hollow shell, hiding behind the facade that I didn’t have a alcohol problem. No matter how I tried to deceive myself, it was impossible to conceal my shame, guilt, and remorse. I constantly blamed external factors for my internal struggles. With such a negative focus, how could I perceive anything positive?

Through years of long-term sobriety, while every day isn’t perfect, I feel and experience gratitude on levels I never imagined. Like right now. I’m grateful.

During this season of thanksgiving and gratitude, take some “me time.” Grab a notepad and jot down everything you can think of that makes you feel grateful, thankful, and blessed, I am sure your list will be long.

Thank you to all our contributors this and every month!

Together AZ is honored to know and work with such incredible people and organizations. Thank you, Tim McLeod, for your insightful feature on triggers and ways to cope with them. And words cannot express my sincere gratitude to Jessica Parsons for her engaging article on Purse Impressions. Patricia Brusha is a truly remarkable woman who turned a tragic event into a mission to help women feel loved and supported. She is pure generosity.