X is for X Chromosome!

Shout outAnd a big thank you to JuliaWho suggested X chromosome for the letter XYou are on the ball today JuliaGreat suggestionAnd it means I get to write about the women in my life
I am blessed to have some amazing and strong women in my lifeI often write about my motherAnd what a rock of support and love she is For a little womanShe is the strongest person I knowWhen she was my age She already had four childrenThree girls and a boy She lived with an alcoholic husband up until the year 2001Then three of her children developed addiction and mental health issuesYesShe has been through the millAnd she did it with the grace and elegance that always surrounds herIn recovery I have become very close to my motherAnd she never ceases to amaze me She is super smartAn avid readerShe can hold a conversation with the best of themBut she is humble with itShe doesn't judgeShe doesn't discriminatePeople are drawn to herLike moths to a flame She leads a very active life Even though she is retiredShe has many friends And is always doing somethingAnd going somewhereShe has always supported meAs I have often said If love and support could have made me wellI would have recovered a long time agoShe has never given up on me And has gone to extreme lengths to help me over the years I moved back in with my mom ten years agoAnd I love it I love spending time with her I love doing things with herShe is interesting and interestedIf I grow up to be half the woman she is I will be doing pretty well
I also have two sisters Who like meStruggle with life My sisters are also strong independent women And people I look up to AgainThey are super intelligent And bags of common senseSomething I struggle withI am lucky to have such great sisters 
Then there are the professionalsAs you know I started seeing Mary a few years agoAnd have been seeing her on and off since then From the startShe has been a constant supportWe clicked straight awayAnd she is so knowledgeable about EDs and life in generalI actually saw Mary earlier todayIt was great to be able to tell her how well things are going She reminded me of the first time I met her And how far I have comeShe regularly mentions the conference I spoke atAnd the amazing feedback mine and my mothers speech got Today She brought up the subject of discharge I am nervous to let Mary goSo we decided I would see her once a month from now onAnd see how we go from there This is good It's all goodI will miss Mary But I know I can ring her anytime And I know it's time to move onTo spread my wings and fly 
The other professional in my life is BredaI started seeing Breda over a year ago After I relapsedI liked her from the startShe is no nonsense PracticalSound On the ballFull of good adviceI have seen many addiction counsellors over the yearsAnd Breda is by far the best I see her about every three weeksAnd even though I am now very much clean and sober It's no harm to keep going to see her
I love being a female A strong, recovering female And am surrounded by such brilliant women No offense to men But we are the movers and shakers of this world You've heard the saying Behind every great manIs a great womanI think this is so true I am proudProud to be a womanAnd proud of the fellow women around meAnd you My beautiful blogger family I know the vast majority of you are female And you have become part of my story You have been such a support to me over the years This blog has been a life line And I feel so blessed to have met some incredible women from all over the world Yes We are strong We are independent We are learning Growing Thriving And blossoming They say at the meetings That women should stick together And the men tooI agree with this As there is no agenda with a fellow woman Well I guess there could beBut most of the time there's not So this post is dedicated to you My blogger family And I don't write thdt flippantly You are like family to me