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Today I didn’t grieve for my health issues

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How many days do I get up in the morning and say “Maybe my hands will work for me to get dressed without difficulties. Maybe I can get through my morning without a bathroom mishap. Maybe the pain in my body is manageable and doesn’t interfere with my quality of life. Maybe multiple sclerosis will behave and allow me to run some much needed errands.”?

Sometimes feeling lonely overwhelms me. I have sensed a feeling of abandonment more times than I care to admit. Not because of anything in particular, but just because I find it’s not that easy to get some much needed help for everyday events like preparing a meal or cleaning the house.

Recently I have noticed that I get upset easier. I have been in arguments or quarrels for no reason at all. My emotions are just on edge and have a tendency to overwhelm me. I feel like people I used to count on have moved away from my life which in a way is something to be grateful for… but still unnerving. I don’t need complicated people to complicate my already chaotic life.

Today I didn’t grieve for my health issues… I looked at my life and was thankful for my doctor which I will be seeing later in the day hoping it’s a good appointment. I looked out at how hard the wind was blowing and was thankful that I have a roof over my head, heat in the house and food in the cupboard. That I have friends and some family members who love me and contact me just to see how I’m doing.

My back porch has been setup with comfortable seating to enjoy the warmer weather when it comes and it’s been cleaned… the spring cleaning way. It was a much needed job to get done. Family came by unexpectedly and helped me out. That was a much appreciated thing to have happen. How can I show my gratitude? I feel like just saying thank you to everyone in my life isn’t enough gratitude, but it is.

I can do acts of kindness. I can perhaps slip a card of encouragement to someone secretly that I know can use it. Often, many people I see just want to talk to someone. That doesn’t cost a penny. For the most part, my time is free to give. Maybe some people won’t understand how special those kinds of times are, but I do and will still cherish them.

Today, ask yourself what you have done lately to show your gratitude for the day? Sometimes all that’s needed is our attention and looking around just to notice what’s actually there. There’s always something. What are you grateful for?

 

 

Being thankful even with multiple sclerosis

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Being thankful when you’re hurting seems like an impossible thing to do. How in the world can anyone live a life of gratitude in the middle of a life of pain? You may be looking at everything happening in your life right now and thinking I’m crazy to even suggest such a thing. Being thankful with multiple sclerosis on top of everything else going on in life? Yeah, right!

When you look around all you see is pain and hard times. You can’t see anything worthy of thanks. Tears happen way more often than smiles. I get it. I understand how overwhelming and difficult it is to live a life of constant change and uncertainty.

Do this for me… take a moment, pause and look at your life. Look at everything you have come through over the years. You have faced circumstances that seemed impossible to others as well as yourself, but you made it through those times. You have walked through hell itself more than once. Most of those times you don’t want to relive, but as you look back you find things to give thanks for. After all, you endured and didn’t give up. The strength and wisdom you gained during those times are lessons worthy of thanks and gratitude.

Giving thanks when you’re hurting is something most people don’t want to do, just like most don’t want to go to the dentist for a root canal or start a new diet, but the rewards are worth it. You can’t give up hope and allow the weight of your current circumstances keep you from seeing that life is filled with more than just pain. It’s filled with beauty too.

Pain has a way of changing our lives for the good if we let it. It’s important to be thankful for the little things in life. What are you thankful for?