Wednesday, January 27, 2010

feeling grateful

I am feeling very grateful for my body today. Most days all I can think about are the things I would like to change about how I look. Today, I am feeling blessed to have the health and strength to run the way I do, and to add all the extra workouts I enjoy on top of that.

My dad will be 70 this year and on Monday he had his left hip replaced. He has been in pain for many years but the last 6 months or so the hip has gotten more painful. He and my mom were serving a mission for our church and so he waited for it to be over to have the surgery. The mission ended in Dec, so they set the surgery up for this past Monday. He lives in Utah and it just kills me that I can't be there to visit him, to hug and kiss him, to support my mom. I have a huge family (6 sisters 2 brothers) so it's not like my parents are alone on the journey to physical free-ness (is that a word?) I love you dad..... heal up quickly so you can get back in that pool to swim laps and back on the streets taking those walks you enjoy so much.

While I was on the treadmill this morning at the Y, a man came in. He is in a wheelchair and he has had both legs amputated. I don't know him, I have never talked to him. I was making up all kinds of stories in my head about why he had to lose his legs. But then I started thinking about what an example he is to all of us. He is bound to a wheel chair day in and day out, yet here he is at the Y, hopping on and off his chair to different weight machines. I noticed that I was feeling a bit lighter and happier with each step I took. I am grateful for my body and I am even more grateful I enjoy staying active. I hope my love for physical fitness will rub off on my daughters.

I also have a few friends who are going through medical ups and downs right now. One friend, after 7 1/2 years, is being weened off her heart medicines. She is such a trooper and has come a long way. I am so proud of her and she inspires me daily. I have another friend who seems to never catch a break when it comes to medical issues for her and her family. She was given some crappy news last week about her 7 year old and also about her own health. I love these girls more then words can express, so I wont try. But they both inspire me to be a better mom, wife, and friend. Thanks for being such amazing women in my life and for being my friends. (you know who you are)

I am also very grateful for my husband. He works so hard for this family. He is always looking ahead and trying to make sure we are happy and healthy. I couldn't ask for a better husband. I am not the easiest women to live with and he sure puts up with a lot of crap. Thanks for loving me.

18 comments:

Mandy said...

great post! and guess what.... i love you too. you are inspirational and AMAZING in so many ways. I love and miss you EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY!!!

btw, thanks for the shout out! ;)

Pining for Pinterest said...

Awesome post! It is a great reminder to remember what we have :-)

Sarah said...

Great post....I have also been thinking a lot lately about not taking thinsg for granted.

Stacey said...

Great post Janice! Thanks for the reminder to not take what I have been given for granted. HOpe your dad's surgery goes well and that he is up and around in no time!

Kandice said...

Aww man...what a great post. Made me cry a little. Just knowing you care means more than you would ever know~! Of course it would be best if you were actually here for a wicked fun GNO to get my mind off things...but you can give me a call anytime by the way. I have wanted to call ya a few times...but I never know when is a good time.

Anonymous said...

Very nice post. I'll be thinking of your dad and your friends as well. Hope time will heal everyone's bodies.

Marlene said...

Aw, what a great post!

I hope your dad has a speedy recovery from surgery!

Anne said...

That was a very thought-provoking post...I am also very grateful for so much. Sending lots of healing vibes to your dad and your friends.

Baldwincrew-blog said...

Your Rock!! Nuff said! Love you mean it!

justme said...

amen

Diana said...

Nice post. Hope your Dad has a fast and safe recovery!
Too bad it takes a man in a wheelchair for us to really look at our issues. If we all were to write our problems on a piece of paper and then throw them into a pile, we'd for sure want our own problems back!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder of something that so many of us may have and too often forget or take for granted.

Alicia said...

I live across the country from my family, too, so I totally know that "wish I were there" feeling. I have a feeling your Dad knows how much you love him and want to be there. :)

Nice post. We are all so blessed!

kristen said...

great post. I totally agree. Every so often I am humbled by someone who is dealing with a physcial obstical. There is a man in a wheelchair at my gym who swims. It's so inspiring seeing the ordeal he has to go through just to enter the pool. And he does it with a smile. Things like that make me very thankfull indeed.

Denise said...

Very sweet, and true, post!! We really don't realize how lucky we have it some times. I hope your dad is doing ok...Dads are so special.

Wendy said...

Great post! Running is a gift!

Tricia said...

Wishing your daddy a speedy recovery!

Anonymous said...

Great post! Thanks for the motivation this morning :)