You have made me smile again. In fact, I might be sore from it; it's been awhile.

Seven weeks to be exact. It's been seven weeks since I first went off the deep end and had to be hauled away in an ambulance to the ER. And now today, seven weeks to the day after I thought everything and everyone was talking directly to and about me, I made my return to the classroom, both humbled and overwhelmed by the amount of support and love that exists in my life.

It's interesting. When I had my first manic episode, I was convinced that I had some great purpose on this planet and everyone was trying to tell me what they needed. Not once did I resent this and, instead, felt inferior in my efforts to assist. When I was first taken to the hospital and, subsequently, to the inpatient unit in Utah County, I felt as though every one of my rights were being violated by people who couldn't possibly have known my mind as I know it myself. They couldn't have my best interest at heart because no one but me knew what my best interest was. And finally, when I was put on paid administrative leave because I still couldn't control that machine that is my mind, I felt as though my livelihood were taken away from me and it was my job to figure out where it went.

And it was in this journey that I learned more about my world than I ever could have imagined. The greatest lesson I learned is that it is you-my friends, my family, my students, my doctors-you who know me best. You who had the perspective to look at me, who was resisting all efforts to help, and let me know that I was anything but myself, and got me the help I needed. It's funny, while I was away from work I felt as though my life had no worth. My time was spent cleaning, sleeping, and talking with those who would listen. And it was through these interactions that I found the true value in my life; you. All of you.

Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for bringing me to where I am today. Today I was able, for the first time in almost a month, to look at my 60 students and let them know that they had their teacher back. And after a day of teaching, I was able to go for a run through the streets that I have grown to love and know that I am the same person who's run these streets for years. Today I was Mr. Hilder, I was Danny, I was D-Train (thanks Rob Dawg), I was son (thanks Dad), and I was Dad (thanks Bella). I was able to be all the people I've known I can be, but doubted I could be again, and I owe it all to you. Thank you for showing me that the battle with myself is not one to be won, but to be embraced through the help of others.