Today I feel grateful for all of my teachers. Those who were soft and gentle, and those who taught me the hard knocks, those who were kind, and those who were rude. Thank you for teaching me what I wanted to know and for teaching me what I never asked to learn, but may have needed. To those who cared and those who felt put upon. To those who saw my potential and those who thought I would never learn. I thank the patient and the frustrated. I thank those who never knew I was learning along with them. I thank those who struggled and those who sailed through easily.

You have all left an imprint on my life, making me feel less alone. The learning hasn’t always been pleasant, but it was always necessary, and I couldn’t have done it without you. I hope I can pass along these gifts you have given me, creating a long chain of memory, keeping you alive for generations to come.

Thank you all for your infinite wisdom, sarcasm, incredulity, humor, derision, and all that you have given to me. Thank you for challenging me to learn new things, to see with new eyes. Thank you for asking me to be a better person. Thank you for touching my heart and changing my life in ways both large and small. Thank you for believing in me, even when I don’t always believe in myself. Thank you for asking me to be more than I think I can be.

You may be unaware that you are one of my teachers. I thank you, also, for your humility and grace. Thank you for your precious time and understanding. Thank you for the gift of yourself. I hope you know, in some way, what you have done for me. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been worth it. I hope that you feel the same.

My sincere gratitude goes out to everyone who continues to teach me, too. I have so much yet to learn. I also have a hard head, so it won’t always be an easy job you are doing. Thank you for your efforts. They are more than I can ever hope to repay. Please continue to challenge me and asking me to grow and learn. Please know that my heart is full of gratitude for you, today and every day.