Although this may sound odd, my disability has taught me to be grateful for what I have in my life – which is why I am thankful all (well 90%) of the time. I can’t see everything, it can be a problem and it can be frustrating. The hardest thing for me to accept was that I cannot, and will never be allowed to, drive (don’t worry, I am getting to the grateful bit).
People often say it is the simple things in life that make a person happy. I know that lot of people in London feel like they just exist. Maybe this is just London life; people work, they go out or go home and then sleep, all with the pretext that they can’t wait for the weekend. But life is so much more than that. Do you ever notice how pretty the sunrise is when you have to get up at the crack of dawn for work? Could you become a surgeon, just because you wanted to (random one I know!)? Do you go for walks in the park and see the faces of the ducks and birds? Do you go for drives in the car? I can’t do nearly all of that. The good news, however, is that I can see and feel the sun shining even if I can’t see the intricacies of a sunrise, I can hear the birds chirping and the traffic (I know, less pleasant), I love being chief navigator in the car whilst my husband drives (with the help of GOOGLE MAPS) and enjoy hearing his stories about something happening on the pavement or about a really cute baby you can see across the road (even though sometimes these stories can be a tad boring, sorry husband). I might not have noticed or done any of this if I could fully see, and don’t get me started on how wonderful it is having a freedom pass or two for one cinema tickets! I guess you can kind of see why I am thankful (!!!).
Today, I am most grateful for my beautiful little sister giving me a mini pancake after I went to the gym. Your task today is to think for a minute about what you have, not what you don’t. Maybe even thank someone for it (God/Family/Friends). I know that it will be hard to remember when you are trying to force yourself up for work on Monday morning, but there is something to be happy for every day.
Smile, be happy and remember all the things you are grateful for. No matter what you can or can’t do.
disabilityandme.net 