You never see it coming, but they are there: the people who teach you how to love again; or even rightly for the first time.

All of the messages, the texts, the pictures that I once found annoying, (because I was calloused and verbose) I now treasure. They mean the absolute world to me. Because the people who sent them; the people who never gave up on me, even when I gave up on me, taught me how to having a loving, open heart again. For this, I cannot even to begin to express my gratitude.

Because, you see, these are not superficial, fly by night relationships. These are not moment people…these are once in a lifetime people…people who challenged me to change…people who just loved me, even when I was at my most unlovable. These are the relationships that are the things that lifetimes are made of, and I am fortunate enough to be blessed with many…even though I have done nothing to deserve it.

It has always been by example that I have learned, and I have had many examples…for which I am grateful once more. And, whether you know it or not, I am always dissecting, analyzing and thinking out the behavior of everyone around me…and doing the same for myself. I imagine that’s just who I am. I’m a thinker. And I don’t ever, ever, ever want to change that about me…nor will I.

But this is where the magic happens….

These people…these handful of folks…brought me out of my darkness, even when I didn’t think I was lost. Now? It’s my turn. And I refuse to let anyone down. Now is the time for revolutionary change, for me to do what they did for me, because that is the only proper way to thank them; to repay their karma.

And you know who you are…so THANK YOU. Thank you for loving me in my darkest hours, for forgiving me in my worst moments, for seeing through my bullshit and for believing in me…even when I didn’t believe in myself. You are those I treasure most of all…and forever.

What about you? What was YOUR wakeup call? Don’t be shy…I want to know.