Gratitude

Gratitude

Debbie Poslosky

The words of ‘Gratitude” and “Grateful” have certainly become more sharp and meaningful during this past year of Covid.  Being in treatment for lung cancer has been even more terrifying because of the way Covid attacks the lungs.  Self-isolation was done immediately to lower my risk, but my friends and family also would not take a chance seeing me for a very long time. For many months of the pandemic I was feeling so well, yet not being able to enjoy my life and the people in it was difficult.  Not seeing or touching my grandchildren or children, and not meeting with friends for so long has certainly been a lesson to be learned!  During some of those hardest days, I practiced a strategy I used to teach my students and my own kids and grandkids.  Picture a light switch on the wall.  The room is dark.  If you “flip the switch” the light comes on.  Each time!  When we use that metaphor with our thoughts, with a little practice it really works!  So I practiced “flipping the switch” each time those lonely, negative thoughts would make their way into my brain.  And when I flipped it, it forced me to think of what was good and right about the situation, and not what was dark and depressing.  

For example: My thought: If I get this, I won’t recover from it. FLIP THE SWITCH and Today I am grateful

I am not sick. I am careful and I will get through this.My thought: I haven’t seen my grandkids or friends for a year of my life! FLIP THE SWITCH and

Today I am grateful that all of us are safe, we love each other, and we

have technology available to be able to see each other and be

connected.

And on and on...you get the idea.  As for gratitude...wow, that has taken

on more intentional recognition.  I have gratitude for the smallest things

such as the beautiful sky, the fresh air, feeling the sun on my face... 

My gratitude for other things has only increased this past year. 

I have gratitude for my home and knowing I am safe.  I have gratitude

for being able to wake up and use my body to do what I would like it

to do-mostly!  I have gratitude that just one of my family members got

Covid but recovered at home, and most of my friends have been

been safe from Covid.I have gratitude that my brain is working pretty

well these days, and all my senses work and are more sharp. 

I have gratitude for living with a man for almost 43 years who still

can make me laugh and loves me like no other human on the earth. 

When I am able to think this way, there is hope and faith in my heart that

the world is truly going to get back to a newer normal that will be better

for all of us.