Grateful to Be Alive Quotes

“People don’t necessarily realize it when they contribute to the erosion of a child’s self-worth, but kids pay attention to how people treat them, and they get the message loud and clear. I wish I could say it didn’t distort their self-perception and make them more sensitive and insecure, but it does.”
― D.K. Sanz, Grateful to Be Alive: My Road to Recovery from Addiction

“Someone else’s idea of what constitutes a good life or “happily ever after” is not a one-size-fits-all.
You can be someone for whom relationships are too complicated.
You can be going through something in your life, processing trauma you may have denied for too long, or you can be going through physical changes in your body. Either way, you might not have the desires other people expect you to have.
Maybe all you want right now is a friend. Friendship is the best foundation, anyway, for whatever may evolve beyond that.
It boils down to this: Not everyone wants the same thing, and that’s okay.”
― D.K. Sanz, Grateful to Be Alive: My Road to Recovery from Addiction

“When we place someone on a pedestal, we elevate them almost to the status of a god. Our perception of them goes from one extreme to another. This paragon of the ideal either walks on water or is a monster We trust them; then we don’t. They can’t possibly live up to the image we created of them or meet all of the expectations we have because what we want is the fantasy—not the human being donning the costume. We don’t really know the human being behind the fantasy. All the while, we may swear that we love them, but we can’t love someone we don’t see.”
― D.K. Sanz, Grateful to Be Alive: My Road to Recovery fom Addiction

“You may be broken now, and things look rather bleak. I know. You may not believe me when I say you can heal because your heart is breaking in a way it never has. It’s like every broken heart you’ve ever had has come together to magnify the brokenness. It seems everything has fallen apart, but soon it will all come together again, I promise you—the way it was supposed to be. Deep down, we have the answers. When we are ready, we’ll align our will with the will of our highest power of love and light. I’m here with you.”
― D.K. Sanz, Grateful to Be Alive: My Road to Recovery fom Addiction

“Love is good, but to be comfortable loving and being loved in return, we must realize we deserve it. We must realize we are worthy. Getting to that place opens another door in the journey of our recovery from past trauma and emotional abuse. Beyond it, more beauty awaits—and more joy.”
― D.K. Sanz, Grateful to Be Alive: My Road to Recovery from Addiction

“So many memories come to mind—the child you were, the adult you’ve become—so much anguish for what happened all those years ago. You never wanted to let anyone down, I know. You feel everything so intensely. Just don’t tell me that you don’t deserve better. You do. Don’t tell me you’re a failure. You’re not. We learn from every mistake. That’s not failing; it’s growing. You are a beautiful, empathetic being of love and light. And don’t say hope will damn you. It won’t always, I promise.”
― D.K. Sanz, Grateful to Be Alive: My Road to Recovery from Addiction

“I am grateful for fond memories of childhood that overshadow the painful ones.
I am grateful for all I have been able to resolve internally, for the darkest moments, and for rising from every fall.
I am grateful for the beaten dragons.
I am grateful for the surviving child in me, for my strong wings, for the doors opening for me, and for the ones that closed behind me after teaching me what I needed to learn.”
― D.K. Sanz, Grateful to Be Alive: My Road to Recovery fom Addiction