May 9, 2012
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Gratitude Reminder
I would like to thank @ZSA_MD for her post on gratitude. She wrote a beautiful poem about gratitude (http://zsa-md.xanga.com/762467466/gratitude/) that reminded me to quit feeling sorry for myself and look at how fortunate I am.
Just like everybody else, I get down in the dumps. The dog misbehaved and now my knee is all torn up – I can’t run on it for awhile. It will be months before I see my youngest daughter, I am not working this summer and feel pretty useless, and so on… But it is really ridiculous to waste my time moping when I have better things to do.
I am healthy and happy (with the knee exception) and so is my family. That alone is reason to be very thankful, I have a large family and no misfortune is happening to any of them. Regardless of any mistakes made in the past by me or my family, health alone gives us the opportunity to try again.
I live in a beautiful area that I chose. I didn’t get stuck where I grew up or where the jobs were, I was able to chose where I live and build a life here that makes me happy. I get to enjoy the outdoors in the way I want to that makes me happy. This isn’t what would make everyone happy, but it makes me happy. I have the life I chose and built, and continue to build, and for that I am grateful.
I have so many experiences to relive. These experiences, good and bad, shaped who I am and how I see the world. Without the good experiences, I wouldn’t know what I like. For example, I know that I like to hike and explore the outdoors, I know I like to meet new people and try new things. I know I prefer to stay away from crowds and urban areas and explore the natural beauty of places. Without the bad experiences, I wouldn’t be able to empathize and have a multi dimensional way of looking at scenarios. I would be more judgmental and less compassionate. I am as grateful, if not more, for the pain and rough patches I have been through as I am the great parts of my life, because I would be so much less than I am today had I not experienced things.
I have so many things I want to do, and for that I am grateful. I know many people who don’t want anything, really. They want to go to work, come home, hit a movie or a club on the weekends. That is fine and well for them, but I am grateful that I still want to do and experience life outside of the everyday drill.
Finally, I am glad that I live in a nation and a time that offers me choices and freedoms to live as I choose. This isn’t the perfect place or the perfect time, but when I look around at the oppression, violence, famine, war and disease of so many other places – I thank my stars I am where I am. I am grateful I have a voice, a choice of how involved to get in my community, and an equal presence. I am grateful that I don’t have to say how great my husband is because he never beats me. (I just read that in a book and I was taken back to when that was really something to be grateful for.) I am grateful I can read, write, vote and choose any field to work and play in.
Thanks @ZSA_MD, for reminding me to pull my head out of my ass and be grateful.
Comments (38)
this is good to read. thank you for posting it!
Zakiah’s post touched me, too. she’s a wonderful friend.
and I’m thankful for you being here. I enjoy your posts!
how badly were you injured?
My guess is if your husband ever tried to beat you, you would break him in two. Just sayin’
@plantinthewindow - I should have mentioned I was grateful for Xanga! Damn! Thanks, I enjoy you, too
I hope it’s just a sprain and not an ACL tear or something. As quickly as I am healing, I assume it’s nothing serious. Just enough to piss me off and make me less lenient with this damn dog!
@we_deny_everything - Haha, I can’t even imagine it – but you are right. He would regret the fact the idea even came into his head!
Here I thought this was gonna be a post on being thankful for Jennifer! If you help me win her back from @we_deny_everything , I will have the same grateful feelings as you.
@Kellsbella – I’m not sure who Jennifer is, but I will happily plot and scheme with you. It doesn’t surprise me really, @we_deny_everything has unmatchable charm and charisma that can steal any woman’s attention. He’s a heartbreaker, that one.
@BoulderChristina - @xxplorn posted her letter. Here I thought I was her girl….
It hard to be humbled but must happen once in awhile
@Kellsbella - Oh you are, I am sure of it. Just send her those “shots” with your email addy and credit card number (so she can come visit you) and she will be putty in your hands!
@rilthe - Agreed!
great post
I try and focus on the good things around me, but like everyone else I digress and find myself in the dumps. It’s nice when you have someone to remind you of the beauty you have around you
I loved reading this post… Made me realize everything I was glad about & helped me to remember that I do have a good life. Even if I tend to forget!
I’m especially glad to have Xanga & to have great friends here…You are included!
Thank you for being awesome!
*hugs*
That was a beautiful poem Z wrote, she’s so talented, can’t wait to get her book!
I’m so sorry you got hurt! Did the dog pull you down on a leash, or trip you, jump on you, what happened?
I hope it’s not serious I hope it heals fast you’ve been doing so GREAT with your work outs and enjoying them too!
this is seriously sucky news, I’m so sorry!
good on you for deciding to make a gratitude list. what else can you do I guess. stilll….
@karoline1982 - OH wow, I still have one of those xanga cards! have not seen them in ages. Some of the stuff mine says has changed now after all this time.
@DivaJyoti – thank you! I’ve been feeling pretty sorry for myself the last few days. He was running beside me like normal and jumped at a dog I didn’t even notice. I twisted my knee, but will probably survive – unlike his man jewels!
@karoline1982 – you’re such a sweetheart
@DivaJyoti - I just found mine, maybe 3 weeks ago. Made me laugh & Yeah. I would change mine but oh well. I’m not sure how to do them. Someone else on Xanga made me mine!
I wish I could remember who!
@BoulderChristina - You are too!
i’m having a gratitude funk right now. i invited a ton of friends to my birthday, and only a few are going. i can’t tell if i’m being blown off, or if people are just busy. anyway, i SHOULD be grateful for the friends that will be there. but i can’t help but feel lousy
@flapper_femme_fatale - I am sorry about your friends.
It’s a shame that people get so busy they forget to stop and enjoy what is most important like friends and family.
@BoulderChristina - it’s ok. and your post inspired me to write a gratitude post of my own. so i should thank you
You have a lot going for you, and yes, if one doesn’t get the right lessons from a rough patch, it is just a bad memory. Hope your knee is better soon.
Cricket, OMG! What an honor! My arms can reach out for miles, and I hope you can feel my hugs. I really want you to know that I hold you close to my heart, and want to thank you for this inspiring post. The way you write, makes me feel so humble and awed. Thank you, thank you, many times over!
I have read some of your previous posts, where I have cried with you, and have felt your ache. Mothers and grandmothers have a knack of doing that. I wish you well in every single thing you do. I wish you and your family, great health.
I am sorry to hear about your knee. Please take care of it. I am sure you have seen an orthopod by now.Colorado has some of the best orthopedists in the country. I ignored mine for decades because I was too damn busy playing tennis. A horrible arthroscopy last March ended up with a total knee replacement in October of last year. Tennis is history now. But golf is enjoyable.
Sorry for this thesis about my knee. My reason was to alert you to pamper the knee, and don’t hurt yourself more.
What a great message. I find myself doing a lot more complaining than being grateful too more often than I should.
I hope you have a speedy recovery <3
Good reminder. Thanks! God bless, ~ Pete
Beautiful post on gratitude.
I’d be UPSET if I had to stop my workouts. You’re being really brave.
I think a simply AMEN will pretty much sum up what I would say… Thanks for the reminder, Christina… The idea is to continue to move through it all even with the challenges… MAJOR hugs, my friend!!
You have good priorities, great post!! Hope your knee feels better. Mine frustrates me a lot too when I can’t walk and stuff, I understand how crappy it can be.
Awesome post. I wish I could rec this a gazillion times. I hope the knee get better,
As for me, I’m gonna need to pull a little harder. I think my head is still up my ass. LOL!
@RighteousBruin - Thank you! I can’t wait to meet you in person tomorrow!
@ZSA_MD - You’re such a dear, it was you that inspired me! As far as the ortho… no, I haven’t. BUT (in my defense) I had very little pain and it mostly just felt out of place and unstable. Within a couple of days I was able to bear weight again, so I didn’t feel I needed to go in. Now I can do almost everything except run, so I am very fortunate.
It doesn’t surprise me you are a tennis player, that is such a fun sport! After the surgery, are you still able to play?
@Grannys_Place - @Evangelist_Guy - @wretched_epiphany - Thank you!
@YouthforObama - Haha, well I know I am not alone! The funny thing is, the things it is preventing me from doing doesn’t feel like workouts. It feels like it is holding me up from fun and all I can do is less fun things. I wish it was preventing me from doing dishes!
Thank you for stopping by and the friend add.
@MzSilver - We just need to remember this will pass, right? You are so inspiring with your perseverance and your ability to keep picking yourself up despite what is happening with you. Something to aspire to
@ShimmerBodyCream - What did you do to your knee?
@reckless_eagle - Thank you so much
@Unstoppable_Inner_Strength - I’m still pulling! Haha, thanks for the giggle!