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That life is precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted.. My Mother died of cancer when I was age 40 and my children were very young. It totally changed my outlook on life.
Illness and infirmity have taught me that nothing remains the same . . .
we are all in flux.
One day I might be well,
and the next day,
not so much.
I have learned that illness can mean many things
to different people.
The aches and pains
creep up over time.
I was always very physical when I was young,
and assumed that fact
would keep me supple and lithe as I grew older . . .
not true.
Body parts get tired and wear out.
Learning to find gratitude in my heart during hard times
has been perhaps the most difficult challenge of my life,
and sometimes
I feel like I am still in kindergarten . . .
coming to terms with a more limited life style.
I have learned to not take the ‘good’ days for granted,
but still struggle with the ‘bad’ ones,
especially if there are too many in a row . . .
my mind starts to go to dark places,
and I can slip into what they call in AA “stinkin’ thinkin”.
Now that I know the monster is there,
waiting for me on its muscular haunches,
I can gird myself
with acceptance, presence,
and even friendly familiarity,
and,
more often than not,
go into battle with a smile on my face.
It helps to have someone on my side too.
I gotta recognize and stymie that “stinkin’ thinkin” dear Sparrow.
🙂
Dealing with mental and physical illness, I have learned the importance of Tending to this body in the most loving, kind, and gentle way. Like the quote of the day states, not viewing yourself as something that needs to be fixed but as something that ought to be experienced. Yes, I struggle with anxiety and depression and OCD and addiction. Yes, I struggle with physical pain all around my body. But I am not broken. I May feel this way, but I am not something that constantly needs to be repaired. I am someone who has experienced life and has been bruised up and scraped up and fallen all the way. That is part of this experience, but I have also met others who have dealt with the same and have helped me along the way. They have shown me not only love and compassion but also strength and resilience. That is another thing I’ve been taught on this journey, you cannot deal with illness alone. We are social beings and need others, especially during difficult times such as being injured. Having a life while managing chronic health issues can be exhausting and debilitating and frustrating but it has given me the gift of gratitude, community, and perseverance. And for that, I am grateful. 🧡
Thank you Jenifer. Not to far off of my existence for many years. Namaste
Jenifer, thanks for sharing with us.
Jennifer, the more we try to fix things, the more it goes the other way. I’m glad you’re able to be gentle on your body. Nature is the best fix.
Sounds like you are on a great path with lots of support. My daughter also struggles with all of this. I truly understand thru supporting my daughter.
I believe you are a strong woman,
dear Jenifer,
and have found your way
through some of life’s bumps, bruises, and breaks
and come out the other end even stronger,
and with more resilience . . .
I am grateful for the example that you set
with love . . .
sparrow
♥
Living gratefully has increased awareness that both difficult and easy aspects of life are possible to be held in balance in such a given moment . The clear statement of Br. David by now has helped me in many situations where either illness or deep sadness or other difficulties were not necessarily something I could be grateful for in that very moment, while in the same time, to be aware of the opportunity the illness or situation might bear is waiting at the positive end of that challenge to be acknowledged also. It took quite a while to really unfold to this capability, which still is a bit left work in progress but clearly on its way, to not only focus on the sometimes almost unbearable but to open up to stay in kindness and even possibly joy amidst of deep grief and pain and to let God´s rays in which possibly might come up when allowing the sun to appear at the inner horizon through opening up to this perspective. It is a precious and highly appreciated lesson learned, which slowly brings back light to my soul. Thank you again for this question. Blessings and best wishes from my heart for restoring to health to all who are ill or who are in difficult situations life can bring to all of us.
Illness has taught me to take better care of myself, my body, my spirit & soul. It has taught me to be more compassionate towards myself, more loving. Illness reminded me of how amazing my body, the human body is & to always be grateful for it & how hard it works.
Honor it.
🕊️🩷✨
Yes, and all that hard work without even being noticed by us! Nothing less than a pure wonderwork of nature which we call our body. Thank you for reminding me to honor it even more, dear PKR.
This is a great question. I deal with a few chronic issues but they are under control and do not destroy my quality of life. Several years ago I broke my femur and the recovery was very long and tedious. My recollection is one of great patience and meeting wonderful dedicated folks along the way. I am grateful for that healing.
My husband’s physical challenges have led me to gratefulness. I am very conscious that I can’t take for granted any function in my body that works even semi well.
My husband’s mom used to say, when you have your health you have it all.
Yram, my dad always reminded us (family), that having your health is better than having money. “Health is wealth.”
Have a blessed day. 😊🩷
I so agree!!
Illness in myself: the body can do horrible and wonderful things. It has a huge capacity to both surface challenges and heal in surprising ways. So for me, the lesson is to be grateful every day for good health, because you never know when the body will surprise you.
Illness in others: can become consuming. You never know how someone will react to being ill. Teaches me to let go of trying to control, and be grateful for knowing the ill person and continuing to have the opportunity to accept them as they are.
Oh boy, when I’m healthy, I rarely think about the times when I’m not healthy. And when I’m sick or injured, I can’t believe that I took my health for granted, just hours or days before, and was able to move about and do things so easily. I really should be more grateful when I am doing well and able to do things without even a thought. This will not always be the case. .
I am grateful for my ability to work and play and move and get things done.
Thank you for this reminder 🙏
I’ve only been really sick once in this lifetime, not counting getting colds and things like that. I had an appendicitis 5 years ago. It came upon me so fast. I was working and everything was fine until it wasn’t. I thought I had food poisoning and told my boss I wasn’t feeling well. When she asked me what was wrong and I relayed my symptoms, she said it was my appendix. Me being a non-doctor kind of person, I was like no no no… I think I just need to get something out of my system. Unfortunately, what I needed to get out of my system was my appendix! I had always said I would never have to have surgery in this life, but there I was in the hospital going in for emergency surgery. I was really scared, but everyone was so kind. I cried just before they knocked me out, but I closed my eyes, opened them back up and they were done! Covid was a thing, so the hospital was really quiet. I had the best after-surgery nurse, who happened to be a cute young surfer. My husband and I laughed about that.
Anyway, that whole experience reminded me that I am human and that bodies have problems sometimes, even if you take really good care of them. And that when symptoms arise, I should take them seriously, especially as I am not in my 20s anymore (you should take them seriously then, too!!). I was grateful that I was basically forced by my boss and husband to listen and go to the ER. It also gave me a whole new perspective and respect for those in the hospital/healthcare system. They made me feel safe and cared for, and when I found out my appendix was close to bursting, I had immense gratitude that they saved my life.
These days, I’m grateful not to be dealing with any illness, and I pray to remain healthy and send those wishes to each of you, too.
I’m grateful too you followed through w/surgery. My great grandmother died from a ruptured appendix. Tho that was in the early 1900’s in a small town in Iowa, that event rippled through generations in my family. In her passing she was a teacher to me of listening to my body.. thank you for stirring up this memory by sharing your story. 🌻
If I would have been living alone at the time, I might not have gone to the ER. God, I was so stubborn about doctor-care in the past! My husband and I were actually not married at that point in our relationship, but we had moved in together a few months prior, just before Covid hit. I’m so sorry that your great grandmother died from a burst appendix. I cannot imagine the pain, as what I dealt with was quite unbearable. But I’m glad you learned something from it… something good truly can come from any situation if we look for the lesson.
Txs Patti, if my eyes are open and I look objectively at life’s experiences I see how there are many “teachers” from lessons given to me. Caroline, my great grandmother, never lived long enough to see all the people whom she taught by her passing. Health is often more fragile than I realize. Peace to you 🫶🏽
I know I am not actually answering the question when I say that living gratefully makes me able to handle illness more graciously. It also assists me in the toleration of chronic pain. Thankfully my pain is not intense but it is nagging-ly constant. I don’t even like to think of how I might handle it if I had not discovered the strength and solace gratefulness brings.
I shared with this community about my recent bout of shingles. I am deeply grateful it has passed. I cannot reflect nostalgically on the experiences. However, I am able to have deep gratefulness for my son who drove me to the hospital, my husband who nurtured me, the ER doctor who took me seriously, my work for giving me time off, and my own acumen for self-diagnosis. That’s the beauty of “stop, look, and go.” I don’t have to pretend it was great; yet, I can see how much love I am connected to. I am also grateful for my usual state of wellness. I am celebrating it with a camping trip tonight.
I am sick right now, haven’t been feeling well for two days – last week my daughter was sick with a nasty upper resp cold. I took a Covid and it was neg so I’m just eating my fruits, getting my vit C and resting.
Being sick teaches you how your body can change quickly and it is important to listen to it.
https://nationaltoday.com/national-cheese-day/
https://nationaltoday.com/national-hug-your-cat-day/
Thank you everyone for your well wishes and kind words. I called out of work today, need to rest. The constant coughing is exhausting and now headaches… ugh no bueno.
I pretty sure if I hugged the barn cats I might need stitch or too! Healing vibes your way Michele.
Hope you feel better soon Michele
Hoping you feel better soon.
And what great national day celebrations today! I will forever be a cheese and cat lover!
Michele, I hope you feel better soon.
Sending you healing thoughts & prayer.✨🙏🏻
Michele, sending you some Sunny Vit C thoughts from MN as you rest. 🌻
I wish you a speedy recovery. It sounds like you have a good plan in place.
I am grateful for all the varieties of cheeses. I am also grateful for the cheese makers who are patient with the process.
Hope you feel better soon, Michele.
I hope you are soon feeling better,
dear Michele . . .
being both a cheese lover and a cat worshiper,
I will celebrate doubly today. 🙂
Wise words, Michele. Sending loving energy your way.
It has certainly taught me to be grateful for health and all the things I do each day living my life.
I have mental illness; specifically bipolar disorder. It teaches me to stay humble, take care of myself, and appreciate every moment.
My form is experiencing the diminishment phase. No illness per se just some crooked fingers, toes, skin doctor once a year due to too much vitamin D, sciatica nerve issues. Gratefulness has helped me go beyond the pissed off state, the oh woe is me state, of discomfort. Gratefulness has led to the gradual acceptance that the vehicle I am experience life in, is as impermanent as all else in this universe. What was a saying Kevin wrote that an older woman he knew would say, Snip, tuck, stitch and go! That is so true. May all encounter some comfort for the uncomfortable on this gift of another day.
I was just thinking of “the regular posters” and wondering also how they are .
“May all encounter some comfort for the uncomfortable on this gift of another day.” What a beautiful wish…thank you, Joseph!
I loved that you remembered Kevin’s quote, he had said that one many times – boy he is missed, I hope he is ok.
Yes,
I miss Kevin too. ♥