Tuesday, June 9, 2009

The happiness of health

Well, Zoodle got past his stomach bug.

Then Chickie got it, in a different form--not as bad, but still not fun.

Then I--the one who hadn't had a stomach bug in maybe 15 years--got it.

I was not a happy camper. I remember having one of these viruses when I was a teenager and musing how absolutely dreadful it felt. And when it happened again, I found that my memories were pretty accurate. It's not fun. Thankfully it was a quick, 24-hour thing, and it happened on the weekend, when The Engineer could cover for me with the kids. By Monday morning I felt fantastic again.

But feeling crummy made me think about all the people I know, or know of, who have had chemotherapy, and the terrible side effects that go along with it--for a lot longer than 24 hours. It made me think about friends who have had terrible "morning sickness" all day long, for all nine months of pregnancy.

And it made me appreciate the fact that I'm usually healthy, and that when I get sick, I get over it quickly. I don't know if it will always be that way, but for now, I have a renewed gratitude for my health.

What is something positive that you tend to take for granted in your life? I hope you'll join me today in taking a minute to be thankful.

10 comments:

bARE-eYED sUN said...

love that glass half-full thingy. :-)

glad that you're feeling better, looks like this stomach-virus is making the rounds, we're just getting over one ourselves.

thanks again,

..
.ero

Anonymous said...

Good health is definitely one of the things that I appreciate, even more now that I'm in my 60's. I try to appreciate every day of it. I think it would be awful to lose your good health, and THEN realize what a gift you had that you never appreciated! Today, I am healthy and happy. God will take care of tomorrow.

Call Me Cate said...

Glad you're feeing better. As someone who more often than not feels NOT so great, I do appreciate it when I feel well. Recently I was at a concert. It was hot, it was loud, it was crowded. But I didn't have a migraine, I wasn't freaking out from the crowd, and I was handling the head just fine. I was surprised but grateful that I could just have a blast and enjoy the show.

Our Scoop said...

That is so interesting that you mentioned all those things that passed through your mind while you were sick. I thought those same exact things 2 weeks ago when I was so sick with the stomach bug. I cannot imagine being sick all the time. I also felt such thankfulness for my health! I am not trying to copy you but I totally take it for granted usually. I also take Andrew's health for granted. He is 3 and has never had an antibiotic. He has had a few little colds and the stomach flu twice but that is really not much. I have a friend with a son with cystic fibrosis. You would not believe how much medication he takes as well as the vest breathing treatments. I cry just thinking of it. I am so thankful for health!

Dan Felstead said...

EEEWWW...sounds nasty! I hate stomach viruses....I'm glad your better. We haven't (got my fingers crossed) had a round of that since Zach got out of school.

By the way...that is what I'm thankful for!

Dan

Deanna said...

So glad you are all feeling better!

2cats said...

Gald that you are feeling better. Even a 24 hour bug is nasty.
I was going to comment on your request that that we comment on something that we take for granted, but I decided that it was too long for here. I need to do a tribute to a fine u=young man on my blog. Please check for it here:
http://trudystreasures-2cats.blogspot.com/Afineyoungman

Unknown said...

Glad y'all are feeling better!! Something I take for granted sometimes is that my children will all help me to help each other--with four of them it's so easy to rely on the older ones if I'm busy...but I've been working on that lately (with tons of other things lol)...I remember what that was like (I'm the oldest of 4) and I swore I would never do that to my children. It's good to look back sometimes!!

LEstes65 said...

Glad you're better. I always miss you when you're not at church. And of course, my boys always ask where Zoodle is!

One of the things I'm very thankful for - and am not taking TOO much for granted lately - is that I've been laid off since the end of January and have had the luxury of choosing to stay laid-off for quite a few months. I'm totally aware that severance packages are not the norm these days. And I'm totally appreciating mine.

Scriptor Senex said...

Even when one does have constant ill health there always seems to be plenty to be thankful for. And, sadly, always someone who seems worse off healthwise. So yes, I'm happy to take a minute - or more - to be thankful.