The Grateful Graduate

Last Saturday, I graduated with my Bachelor of Social Work from the University of South Florida! Initially, I wasn't going to "walk," as I hate ceremonies of any kind. It's like, just give me my damn diploma already--a diploma which you don't even receive at the commencement anyway. Moreover, I still have to complete my MSW and possibly my Doctorate, which, to me, are the big accomplishments. I mean, the Bachelor-level degree is about as valuable as a VCR.

Feeling as though I might have future regrets if I didn't attend, I decided to go. The most satisfying part of graduating, besides hearing my name read aloud in front of the other 858 graduates, was knowing that I was able to accomplish my BSW in RECOVERY--that is HUGE.

I never thought I could sit through a boring event like graduation without the comfort of food. Prior to recovery, I would've probably binged and purged before the ceremony, and if I didn't say, "fuck it, I'm not going," then I'd be obsessing on which fast food joints I was going to make a bee line for following the ceremony.

Bottom line: It's nice to be present for life today.

Cliche for the day: The past is history. The future is a mystery. The present is a gift.