We all read or hear inspirational sayings in social media, and even in television commercials, and think at the time…..hmmmm, that is really good. I will apply that to my life. But as soon as life hits us hard, turning our normal upside down and inside out, we have a tenancy to forget them. At least that is how it is was with me, and maybe you too?
While
recuperating from a recent surgery, the realization that attitude and gratitude
is everything became a reality for me. I
was restricted in participating in so many activities that made up, and brought
joy, to my life. For example, I love gardening
and that had been put on hold for several months. Even the simple things of driving myself to
the grocery store was forbidden, and even getting dressed was a struggle.
Little
Miss Independent Me had to rely on other people for just the simple things.
So I
started to focus on what I could not do, instead of finding joy in what I could
do As you may have guessed I became sad. What my
grandmother used to call “being blue”. Have
you been there? Have you overcome one setback,
only to be hit by another? And find
yourself slowly descending into a sense of hopelessness and the state of “being
blue”?
Well
brothers and sisters I am here to tell ya (picture me in a revival tent LOL!), What I discovered was Attitude and Gratitude Really
Are Everything. Yep, they are.
Here’s a
little example: My first solo trip to
the super market after surgery found me smiling. Why was I smiling at what was in my
pre-surgery-life a chore and something I REALLY grumbled about? Well, as I was
pushing my shopping cart, I realized what a privilege it was to be able to go
to a store alone and just slowly stroll down the aisles picking out items from
an array of goods. Can you imagine how
fantastic that would be for not only our pioneer ancestors but for people right
now in some countries? Then it occurred to me that I was standing upright and pushing the cart by myself. There are many people who cannot do that. See where I am going with this?
During this
time I stopped focusing on what I could
not do and started to think about
all my friends and family who helped me through my surgery and recovery, and
what I actually could do while
recuperating. I realized how blessed
I really was. My blues just drifted
away.
Attitude and Gratitude!
Going every
day to a job that you dislike but need to keep a roof over your head? Are you just bored by your daily chores and
find yourself grumbling about them? Are you sidelined by chronic pain or
chronic illnesses? The lesson I learned this spring was with a Sense of Gratitude and a Change
of Attitude, no matter what your circumstances, life can change for the better.
Residents of
long term care facilities, especially, full care facilities, have lost their
“normal” lives. Betty Brewer’s Angels’
volunteers can’t change the circumstances the residents find themselves in but
out volunteers do strive to change the attitude of the residents and remind
them of what they can be grateful for.
We have witnessed
miraculous positive changes in their lives by simply reminding them of Attitude
and Gratitude. And that is what I am
wishing for you.
Wondering
how you can make this world a better place? Do you have a kind and caring
heart? Then you qualify to become a
Betty Brewer’s Angel volunteer! We
provide initial and ongoing training and support for our volunteers. Contact me
to learn more about our organization. Email www.bettybrewersangels@wowway.com or call me 614-309-4677 with any questions. I would love to hear from you.
