I did the dishes today, feeling a sense of accomplishment that washed over me as the plates and cups sparkled clean. It reminded me of the simple joys of life. I haven't been able to do such tasks in a while, my mental state was in a constant battle, yet today something was different a glimmer of happiness in the midst of my storm. I smiled knowing that even in the darkest days there was still hope and maybe even a chance of change. With a new sound sense of energy I moved on to the laundry the clanging of the machines was almost like music to my ears each piece of clothing no matter how stained held new potential in my eyes. I felt the weight of the past slowly lifting off of me. One chore at a time I was rebuilding my life, one step at a time a new chapter was a new beginning. As I put the last piece of clean laundry away I couldn't help but smile today I took care of myself as the sentence the clean clothes hung in the air, the memories that once haunted me were replaced with the simple joy of taking care of myself. With a sense of contentment I took a deep breath, and just for a moment I close my eyes and imagined with the future could hold and then I looked around amazed at how much I had accomplished and felt a hope I hadn't felt in a long time I did it I whispered to myself