So I’m at work and the sound of bickering fills the air. Complaining about the most mundane things you can think of. Even my work colleague who has 30 minutes left of her shift is moaning about how tired she is and how much she wants to go home. The moment she says this gaze is drawn to a man. A man who is struggling to walk, as it looks like he was born with a hip deformity. Equipped with a cane he waddles past at a speed that could rival a snail and I just have to stare and pity him. Soon after, a woman in a wheelchair rolls past (no pun intended) followed by regular customer. Another lady but this time with a major kyphosis of her thoracic spine (think a hunchback pushing a trolley). I then look at my colleague as she finishes staring as well, and her tone is changed to stun silence, accompanied by a face of guilt. It pained me to see these people live with such discomforts, but at the same time I am glad they were there to serve as a reminder to my colleague and myself that we have absolutely nothing to complain about. We have our health and that is the most important thing in the world. Without our health, we have nothing.
This has really hit home with me after my grandmother suffered a stroke. It left her unable to walk or talk and she will not be able to recover from it. Can you imagine, your entire life, being blessed by the ability to walk and talk and then having that just taken away from you? It’s disgusting, cruel and tragic. Not being able to communicate vocally. Relying on nothing but head nods. Being unable to express your love or appreciation. Unable express your emotions because you are unable to move the muscles of your face.
This is my EVERYTHING face!
Or not being able to walk. You can no longer go to the bathroom yourself. You can no longer wash yourself. You can’t walk to the fridge to grab some food. You can’t even devour food yourself because your hands don’t work and your mouth struggles to move. You can no longer hug anyone. Can you imagine being unable to do all this stuff? It’s enough to make you cry.
How often do you hear people complaining of their physical pain? Can you imagine what those who are paralysed, or missing a limb would give to be able to feel that pain again? How happy they would be? There would be enough tears of joy to rid the world of thirst!
A common complaint from people is they don’t make enough money. I’m sure you have heard it before. In my eyes, a finically poorer person with their health is richer than the financially richer person with poorer health. I know a big stressor in people’s lives is their work, or their need to make more money, and that is all well and good. But I urge you to think about you are trading your health for.
Let’s look at it from a different perspective. When you’re hungry, what is the only thing you want? When you’re tired, what is the only thing you want? What about when you’re horny? What about when you’re sick? I’m sure when you’re making hourly donations from every entry and exit of your body to the porcelain express that you are not thinking “Gosh darnnit, I was I making some money right now.” You want nothing more than to just get better. That’s it.
WHERE IS ALL MY MONEY?!
Tonight I know I am grateful for:A friend of mine suggested something when I was feeling that I didn’t have enough and I invite you do the same. Grab a diary, specifically for this. This is now your Daily Gratitude Diary. Every night before bed to right down three things that you are grateful for.
1) My ability to walk
2) My ability to talk
3) My ability to use my hands
Last night I was grateful for :
1) My mother and sister
2) Being able to drive
3) Being strong enough to lift weights
Remember, being grateful is great and if you are grateful for something or someone, tell them.
So what are you grateful for?
– Sash
Sash Mindflow 