"I still have to learn how to be kind to myself and the way I speak to myself," singer writes on social media Saturday

Britney Spears gave thanks to her friends along her “spiritual journey” in the singer’s first comments since her DUI arrest and subsequent stay in a rehab facility.

“I’m so damn thankful to my friends and so many new beautiful people I have met through my spiritual journey,” Spears wrote in an Instagram post Saturday, her first public comments in over a month. “All a blessing in disguise.”

As Spears noted in the Instagram post — featuring a picture of a snake, a symbol of “good health, higher consciousness, and pure luck” — she and her sons went to an unspecified pet store recently; as TMZ reported this week, Spears recently left a rehab center in Camden, Maine after spending less than three weeks at the facility. 

“I still have to learn how to be kind to myself and the way I speak to myself,” Spears added. “It’s a never ending journey and sometimes I just stop, look up and say wow God I think that was you and smile on!!!”

Earlier this week, Spears pleaded guilty to a reduced misdemeanor charge of wet reckless following her suspected DUI arrest in March. The singer, who did not appear in court, avoided jail time by pleading guilty to the lesser charge; Spears initially faced one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence.

Following her arrest, Spears voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility. “[Spears is] doing well,” her lawyer Michael A. Goldstein told Rolling Stone outside the courthouse this week. “It was reduced. The DUI was dismissed. She entered a plea to reckless driving… We appreciate the district attorney recognizing the positive steps Britney has taken to help herself, and we expect that she’ll continue to do so.”

As part of her plea deal, Spears will remain under summary probation for 12 months, which includes continuing her “mental health and substance treatment,” weekly meetings with her psychologist, twice-monthly visits with her psychiatrist, and the completion of a three-month DUI class.