The "Work-In" - Who are you thankful for?

Ed Negron, a former drug user, turned gangbanger, turned drug dealer, turned own best customer, turned addict, turned recovering addict (still there), turned activist, turned business manager, turned student, turned Substance Abuse Counselor, turned better and happier person, turned someone who can love and be loved (Love you Patrick), turned blogger. Check out Ed's own blog here.

Featured Every Thursday on LifeLube --- check out all of Ed's "Work-In's" here.


It’s Thanksgiving today so of course I’m going to blog out being thankful. Although, instead of material things, even though I am thankful for my scooter and BlackBerry, I want to focus on the people who have had an influence in my life again. I want to repost some parts of an entry I made back on February 19, 2009.

"This past Monday I had an appointment to see my therapist. Yup, that’s right I said therapist. I can’t figure some things out on my own either and I have no shame in that. Neither should you. As I was saying, I arrived early. Since his office is literally right off the lake I took a walk to the lake. As I stood there I watch a man playing catch with his dog. I saw flock of sea gulls (no not the band or the hair) flying by. There was a family of ducks in the water. As I looked out at the lake I heard the calmness of the waves. Just in that moment a sudden rush of gratitude came over me.

"I started thinking just how lucky I am for my life and everything about it. Throughout my life I have been given so many blessings. I have a loving family who accepts me for the man that I am, gay and all. I have been blessed with a wonderful man in my life. My partner Patrick is the yen to my yang. I love him for loving me for me. I’m sorry to break it to you put I have the best friend, partner, and soul mate in the world. I have two truly wonderful friends Mike Matt and Greg Harris. I talk to Mike about everything. Mike knows stuff about me that I probably don’t even know about myself, which he always calls me on, especially when he sees me acting out of shadow. Shadow is the part of ourselves that we hide, suppress, and deny. Greg is my mentor, my dearest friend. He’s another one who won’t cosign my bullshit. Just like Mike, Greg is always there when I need someone to talk to. I can talk to both of them without fear of any judgments. They are my support, my life lines, if you will. Both Greg and Mike are my brothers from another mother. I love them dearly and will do anything for them."

No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude. - Alfred North Whitehead

Practicing Gratitude Can Increase Happiness by 25%

Psychological research finds that people's happiness levels are remarkably stable over the long-term. In his book 'thanks! ', Dr. Robert A. Emmons describes research he carried out with three experimental groups over 10 weeks (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). For the full article on gratitude, go to PsyBlog.

Along with Patrick, Mike, Greg, I am grateful that I have a loving and accepting family. I am thankful for my community because I sent at a small request last week Tuesday morning asking for help in organizing a joint vigil with others happening in cities across the nation for Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado and every other victim of a hate crime. Thanks to a small group of passionate friends it was put together in less than a week. I am both honored and blessed to have each of them in my life. I would also like to send out a BIG Thank You to Scott Anthony Evan form New York for sending out the call to action for the nationwide vigils. 

I am thankful for Jim Pickett and Simone Koehlinger for always being so encouraging. These two are a great mentors and role models for me and the rest of the BLGT community. 

Lastly, I am thankful for all of you. Thank you for reading this blog and for some awesome comments. 

Who are you thankful for?

Happy Thankgiving!!!

To read daily motivations visit my blog at thework-in.blogspot.com or to receive daily motivations via email join our Google group Back To The Basics Please .

If you are not sure how to begin your work-in or need some guidance please feel free to post a comment or email me directly at thework-in@hotmail.com, I will response as soon as I can.

(Usual disclaimer applies: The suggestions on this blog are just that “SUGGESTIONS.” My words cannot heal your pain and or addictions. Nor can I change your life. Only you can.)

“Every time you don't follow your inner guidance, you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness." -- Shakti Gawain