Category Archives: gratitude

How Health Begets Health

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November Gratitude Shorts, Day 7

Today I really give thanks for my health, and for that of my family.

As the kids and I sat waiting to get their flu vaccines this morning, I heard someone blow their nose. It was that thick mucus blowing that feels, at the same time, both gross and gratifying. I took a deep breath through my unobstructed nostrils and looked happily at my uninfected children.

Lately I’ve had some knee swelling and pain, probably resulting from a bike crash last month and then over-zealous running the following week. It’s slowly improving, but has taken up disproportionate space in my consciousness for a couple of weeks. This morning I forgot how my chronic back and neck pain have drastically improved. The heel pain I’ve had for the past year is 80% better since I started rolling my foot on a golf ball this week. I’m actually healthy, and improving all over the place!  So why do my thoughts circle so much more around what’s wrong than what’s right?  I know the teleological basis for this; it’s more of a rhetorical question.

Whenever a virus knocks me down, I appreciate my health the most. Oh, to breathe through my nose and lay flat without feeling like my head and lungs will at once collapse and explode!  To move between routine activities so effortlessly, rather than like dragging a fifty ton boulder uphill through thick fog!

Muffins, croissants, cupcakes and chai lattes tempted me coyly during our post-shot cafe visit today. Thankfully, my renewed awareness of robust health strengthened my resolve to protect it, and I resisted, this time. So maybe if I practice specific gratitude for my health more often, I will make healthier life choices more easily? Can’t hurt to try!

The Marvel of Words

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November Gratitude Shorts, Day 6

Today I give thanks for the gifts of language. To have such a vast array of words, in so many languages from around the world, to express our ideas, thoughts, and feelings—how magnificent!

My friend tells me a story about an exasperating conversation with her boyfriend. I start to remember a similar encounter with my husband.  Before long we’re laughing together, saying, “Yes!  That’s exactly how I feel!”

I read a blog here on WordPress where the author has written my thoughts better than I ever could have. Articles I find on Facebook, my friends’ posts, books that I read or listen to—words are what connect us.  By the way, audiobooks are my new favorite thing, especially when read by the authors. The Art of Possibility, Start With Why, Bossypants, Leaders Eat Last, Rising Strong, Big Magic—it’s like driving to work or sipping coffee in the intimate company of these amazing writers, sharing their divine truths with just me.

There is almost always a precise expression for our experiences:  Queasy. Slothful.  Euphoric.  Hung over.  Resonant.  Cosmic.  Mind-blowing.  Oblivious.

Then there are figures of speech that perfectly capture a concept:

Peeing in the ocean.

Needle in a haystack.

Mess with the bull…

Bite thy tongue.

Own your shit. 

The only other language I know well is Mandarin, and I often find myself thinking of phrases that have no English equivalents. For instance, “shang nao jing” literally means “wound brain scripture.”  It’s used when we feel severely mentally taxed—but trust me, ‘mentally taxed’ just sounds lame in comparison, and does not capture the full meaning.  One of my favorites, “yuan fen,” loosely translates to “fate; destiny that ties people together.”  The Chinese is much more elegant and efficient.  Similarly, my slack foreign grasp of the meanings of “ohm” and “ubuntu” probably fall miserably short of their native speakers’ understanding.

But no matter, language bonds us. I don’t paint or play an instrument.  Though I appreciate art and music, they are not my media for relationship.  The most rewarding moments at work are always when I’m talking with my patients—hearing their stories, getting to know them, relating.  It’s probably no accident that I ended up in primary care, where every encounter carries such potential for rare connection—through words.  And I’m forever grateful for the privilege.

I’m not a big fat panda. I’m THE big fat panda.

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November Gratitude Shorts, Day 5

Thank the creative geniuses at Dreamworks for the “Kung Fu Panda” movies!

I appreciate the underlying philosophical messages in the cartoons, but oh, the humor!   “Shih Fu” means master in Mandarin–so Master Shifu is Master Master.  “Oo-gway” is the phonetic transliteration of the Mandarin word for turtle, and it just looks hilarious to see Oogway as a proper name, not to mention the toothless, dreamy, benevolent creature that Master Oogway is.

Really now, are these not the funniest movies ever made??  Maybe it’s just me?  No matter–that I have something this reliable to make me laugh and lift my mood, whenever I want, is priceless!  All I have to do is think of a quote and I’m happier!  Some of my favorites:

“There is no charge for awesomeness… or attractiveness.”  –Po, about himself, in his own dream

Master Shifu: “But who? Who is worthy to be trusted with the secret to limitless power? To become the Dragon Warrior?”  Master Oogway (after a pause, staring skyward, with a blank and awestruck expression): “I don’t know.”

“One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”  –Master Oogway

“We do not wash our pits in the Pool of Sacred Tears.” –Master Shifu

“I’m not a big fat panda.  I’m THE big fat panda.”  –Po

Soothsayer (a sheep, foretelling): “If you continue on your current path, you will find yourself… at the bottom of the stairs.”

Po: “I just found out that my dad… isn’t really my dad.”   Tigress: “Your dad, the goose… That must have been quite a shock.”

Mr. Ping (Po’s dad): “So, how did it go, did you save China?”  Po: “Yep.”  Mr. Ping: “Well, I knew you would! That’s why I had these signs made!  ‘My son saved China – you too can save! Buy one dumpling, get one free!'”

*sigh* Aaaah, what a great way to start the day.  Maybe your day can be lightened sometimes, too, with a little children’s cartoon movie humor. 🙂