As this week comes to a close and my book has been out for 7 days, I am filled with immense gratitude to all of you who have purchased it and to those who have written a review.
You all know that gratitude is a key part of my life and has been for a long time. But there was a time when I didn’t pay attention to gratitude (or much else for that matter – I operated on automatic pilot for so many years).
“So, are those years lost?” you might ask.
No! As long as you have memory, there is an opportunity for what I call “retrospective gratitude”.
Let me give you an example. For the past 10 days or so and especially this week, I have been almost incapacitated by right heel pain. This has kept me from walking for a few days and you all can imagine what that has done to me. Ha ha! Good thing you’re not around me.
However, I read a few weeks ago a great way to divert your worry bones. When you start to think about the things that are wrong with you and symptoms you might be concerned about, try this. Start making a list of all the things that are working right with you. Concentrate on the magnificent machine that works every second of every day even with poor maintenance – do you even change the oil in your engine? Simply making this list is an expression of gratitude. Even list those areas that may be struggling but are still working. Converting the negative energy to this positive practice will help calm down your nervous system!
I also turned my gratitude to the Vol State races I’ve done since 2014 and especially this year’s race (2022). I was overwhelmed with gratitude that my feet didn’t’ give me ANY problems this year and facilitated my covering the 314 miles unsupported. I think I was so filled with joy and appreciation because I am experiencing the pain now. Often it takes contrast for us to be able experience and express the proper amount of gratitude – especially if we have been negligent in times past as I was.
Another couple of examples of retrospective gratitude:
-I am actually glad that my developing epilepsy forced me to switch my career field out of neurosurgery into a non-surgical specialty. I feel I have helped more people in my ultimate career than if I had been a neurosurgeon. See how “bad things” are often the best things that can happen to us.
-My having the horrible nerve pain from the post Shingles nerve condition led me to taking a medication that is metabolized in the kidneys and as a result I had too much in my system. This led to the diagnosis of my underlying kidney disease which if left unknown might not have been discovered until I needed dialysis.
-This same nerve pain led me to discover neural circuit disorders (mind-body syndrome or TMS) as a cause of chronic pain. Because of that I was able to get out of that pain that would have ended my life. Plus, I am now a big advocate for helping others find relief from chronic pain.
I could go on and on but would love you to reflect on your life and see if you have any retrospective gratitude you need to express