I think we all have varying degrees of being thankful and various things we deem "worthy" of being thankful for. I believe absolutely everything -- the good, the bad and the ugly are worthy of thanks in some capacity. Living and learning from the parts of life where you are in the "valley" can truly equip you for the climb up to that mountain top if you take the lesson, behold the growth and keep moving forward.
Small every day things are worthy of thanks. For me, it is the BASICS -- the ability to get up in the morning, the ability to hug my child, to be strong enough to exercise the way I do at 45 years old, to have a devoted husband, to feel loved by so many, to feel I make a difference -- I do not take these things for granted. I am thankful for them. I live with an acute awareness of my blessings. I live with a thankful and open heart. I do not focus on the negative, hold grudges, sweat the small stuff nor live with regret because I refuse to waste my life on these things. Why is this so "easy" for me?
I had a front row seat as I watched cancer drain the life out of my mother and my mother in-law and it forever changed my view on LIFE especially since I battle the same disease. However, in all of "this" I've have never said or thought "Why me?" "Poor me" nor felt hopeless. I guess that is called FAITH. I have always been laser focused on moving forward. Without a struggle I could not claim a victory. And with each victory there is ACUTE appreciation and gratitude for what I have overcome and what life has to offer having little to do with material things.
I savor, I relish, I enjoy, and I cherish each and every day. I take nothing for granted. I am eternally thankful for my health; my family and a life I live grounded in faith, gratitude, awareness and appreciation. This is what cancer did FOR me -- it gave me an acute awareness of my TRUE blessings.
Why run those races when I have knee problems? Why do fitness competitions when the odds may be against me? Why not "let up" with my workouts? My answer is simple and always the same, "I do "this" because I CAN." When I say, "I can," I mean it in the most literal form. It is not that I am extraordinary; it is that I am capable. This is what I am thankful for.
Small every day things are worthy of thanks. For me, it is the BASICS -- the ability to get up in the morning, the ability to hug my child, to be strong enough to exercise the way I do at 45 years old, to have a devoted husband, to feel loved by so many, to feel I make a difference -- I do not take these things for granted. I am thankful for them. I live with an acute awareness of my blessings. I live with a thankful and open heart. I do not focus on the negative, hold grudges, sweat the small stuff nor live with regret because I refuse to waste my life on these things. Why is this so "easy" for me?
I had a front row seat as I watched cancer drain the life out of my mother and my mother in-law and it forever changed my view on LIFE especially since I battle the same disease. However, in all of "this" I've have never said or thought "Why me?" "Poor me" nor felt hopeless. I guess that is called FAITH. I have always been laser focused on moving forward. Without a struggle I could not claim a victory. And with each victory there is ACUTE appreciation and gratitude for what I have overcome and what life has to offer having little to do with material things.
I savor, I relish, I enjoy, and I cherish each and every day. I take nothing for granted. I am eternally thankful for my health; my family and a life I live grounded in faith, gratitude, awareness and appreciation. This is what cancer did FOR me -- it gave me an acute awareness of my TRUE blessings.
Why run those races when I have knee problems? Why do fitness competitions when the odds may be against me? Why not "let up" with my workouts? My answer is simple and always the same, "I do "this" because I CAN." When I say, "I can," I mean it in the most literal form. It is not that I am extraordinary; it is that I am capable. This is what I am thankful for.
RSS Feed