Love isn’t always all that complicated.

Sometimes love is romance and stories you can’t wait to tell your girlfriends the next day. Sometimes it’s a milestone your child has finally accomplished. Sometimes it’s a shared laugh while you’re snuggled under the covers with your adorable little ones. This week, love was simply gratitude.

Gratitude for the moments when I felt completely normal.

Gratitude for my friends who listened to my complaints in full detail, replete with waaaaay too many icky adjectives. And still offered comfort.

Gratitude for my boss who waved off my forgiveness for having to take so much time off for doctor’s appointments, and who asked if I had someone to drive me.

Gratitude for the advice to drown myself in water, because it really did help to manage the pain.

Gratitude for everyone who has been so forthcoming with so many personal details about how they manage their IC.

And gratitude for my own smucking drama and imagination, because nothing could really be as bad as I’m making it out. (Although it does really suck.)

But mostly, gratitude for normalcy. I have never placed a high emphasis on normal, but man, do I ever treasure those moments now. So much that I wanted to mention it twice!

Happy Love Thursday everyone! Shout with joy from the rooftops about your Big Moments, but be sure to appreciate the small ones, too.

Tags: gratitude, health, interstitial cystitis, Love Thursday