Too Blessed and So Grateful

By Diane O'Steen
NABE President

As our lives spin so very fast, getting faster with each day, do you find yourself, like me, going for days without really feeling anything? Sometimes I can’t even remember driving home at night with so many thoughts running through my tired senior mind and all of a sudden I realize I am at home and it is time to go through the nightly ritual so that I can begin the daily ritual in a few hours.

We all had a wake-up call on September 11 and our lives will never be the same. However, I am physically many miles away from the disaster sites and I did not personally know any of the people killed or injured in the attacks, so my life resumed too quickly to the normal routines. As I watched and read the news I suffered from survivor’s guilt because my life was still so normal. I have experienced this feeling often when I hear of other’s tragedies and misfortunes. I’ve lost loved ones and still grieve for them years later, but for the most part I have led a charmed, protected life.

My 86-year-old mother and I recently spent 19 long, anxious hours waiting helplessly while skilled medical staff fought to save the life of my only child and my grandson she was carrying. Again, we were so blessed as they both survived and we have a tiny, miniature but perfect little boy, Christopher Lee Robinson, arriving in this world on November 19^th, the day before his mother’s birthday, weighing 4 pounds and 9 ounces. Five weeks early but so perfect he did not even require oxygen. And, they both were released from the hospital on November 22^nd in time to surprise my family and me at Thanksgiving dinner. I cannot begin to tell you what a happy and grateful Thanksgiving we had.

Other than my family, I truly believe my next greatest blessing has been the opportunity to work for many years with the Atlanta Bar Association. The men and women I have had the privilege to work for and with are outstanding human beings first and great lawyers second. They have been my extended family for many years and I love and respect them all. And the bright, hard-working staff members of all the Bar Associations in the country who belong to the National Association of Bar Executives are exceptional. The friendships and camaraderie I have enjoyed with all of you has been extraordinary. As busy as you all are, you still accept additional responsibilities for NABE and produce wonderful, fresh programs. Thank you for all you do.

As I go through each day for the remainder of my life, however long or short that may be, I will continue to count my many blessings and to feel guilty because I have so many. My wish for you during this 2001 Holiday Season is that you, too, will be blessed and grateful for all that you have.