A little over a year ago, I wrote a post extolling the fact that I had managed to go on an easy, two-mile, flat walk. I remember that day clearly because it was so hard. My left leg still wasn’t working right and caused me a lot of pain, I walked like a gimpy cowboy on some old black-and-white western. It took almost all my force to get to my destination and back.
I just finished a three-mile walk up, down, around, and through the Berkeley Hills. No pain whatsoever, no tingling, and if there was any hitch to my giddy-up you’d need to look awfully close to see it. I was huffing and puffing at times, but given the grade, you would too. When I got back I felt I could have kept going if I’d wanted to.
I’d taken similar walks before without thinking once of how remarkable it is that I can take such walks. I thought my leg would never get better, I thought I’d always walk with pain, a year ago I would have given anything for one day’s respite from my disability. Now, I rarely think about it.
But this morning I did. This morning I had gratitude. This morning I constantly brought my mind back to the fact that I would walk without pain, that I could walk with strength and force, that I could go up and down steep hills just like anyone else, that when I was finished, I wouldn’t be dead from exhaustion, but rather just go on with my day.
We all take for granted what we have. We take for granted our health. We take for granted the people in our lives. The day-to-day grind of living focuses our minds on things that are small in the larger scheme of things. One thing my horrible experience should have taught me is to be grateful for each small improvement that finds its way to me, grateful for each day alive and (semi-)normal.
When my boys are feeling down, I suggest to them doing something that was suggested to me long ago: Each morning, write down three things that you are grateful for in your life, and think about them during the day. Think about what you have instead of what you don’t have. Think how your life is so much better, more comfortable, safer, more secure, than most people in the world. We are privileged, yet we complain.
Confession: I’m the worst. But some days, like today, I manage to escape, and remember to be grateful.
Categories: Blogging