I woke up early on Thanksgiving day to the smell of turkey and a spruced-up version of the delicious green bean casserole I can still taste from childhood. These were our contributions to the fabulous food my friend was preparing as she awaited our arrival. I was looking forward to spending a casual, relaxed day at her new farm-style house with the spectacular views.
It wasn’t actually the delicious smell that woke me up, it was one of those occipital migraines that alter my senses. Fortunately my nose was working, so evidence of Thanksgiving still wafted through the vents as I covered my head and eyes. This is not happening, I told myself, then quickly returned to reality long enough to take some medication. After sleeping for a short time, I awoke to find the pain had intensified. I started doing breathing exercises and, in order to take another combination of medicines, forced some yogurt down (an especially fun endeavor when migraine- induced nausea takes over). Back to sleep I went praying for relief, and it happened: The Thanksgiving fairy sprinkled her dust on me and flew away with the migraine. Thank you.
In the midst of some of these migraines I feel like a victim of Huck's (from Scandal) power drill. I’m not particularly grateful since I'm in a sort of survival mode. Yet when the goods are being delivered by somebody less torture-addicted than Huck, I voice aloud that thankfully this migraine is not the power drill type.
Holding the experience of pain and gratitude simultaneously can be tricky for many. Understandably, long-term pain can make a person feel too depressed, angry or scared to recognize the good stuff. Some feel more gratitude because they realize they took things for granted prior to pain. Those with fluctuating pain know that at any time it can get worse; a good incentive to appreciate the moments with "less pain." Same concept applies for flair-ups and remembering that the extreme pain will subside at some point.
There are certain instances when having gratitude is last on my priority list, when pain is so intense that I'm in a mode of desperation. That feels healthier than acting as a robot spurting out pre-programmed statements with no truth. Fortunately, the majority of the time being grateful is a part of me that makes life better. To be fair, I’m pretty sure my propensity toward gratitude isn't related to any type of focused practice but has more to do with the gene that was studied. Wherever it comes from, gratitude helps immensely with the increase in pain and resulting adjustments I continue to make in my life.
Years ago I attended some woo-woo workshop I'm a sucker for and the facilitator had us write down twenty things we were grateful about and then say them aloud. One of my list items was "Walking." As the leader remarked on some of our responses she reflected on mine saying, “Yes, we can even be grateful for things that are a given, like walking.” A given?! I thought. At that time in my life I would have scoffed at the suggestion that my mobility could be compromised in the future, but that didn’t mean I
should take it for granted. I still knew that not everybody is able to walk, that the movement eased some of my arthritis pain and that I loved the way my spirit instantly lifted when I walked. It would remain on my list.
On a more global scale, we all know that Syrians have been fleeing their country to arrive at their destination with absolutely no material possessions or promise of comfort. At the same time, a group of Americans are staging protests proclaiming entitlement to having their precious Starbucks cups look more festive. What a luxury for those who are able to step out of their heated home, dressed in one of their countless outfits and head to their very own heated car with money to spend on coffee drinks again this year. I would hope that their important cause wouldn't preclude them from having gratitude for these and other things in life. Then again, considering all the suffering they have to endure by holding those terribly plain red coffee cups, I can see how being thankful for what they have would be such a struggle.
For the rest of us, regardless of when or how we experience gratitude, I say we make a practice of it in a way it makes most sense to us. When feeling grateful doesn't happen naturally, just zoom over to the cognitive part of the brain and take inventory. You might be surprised to see how much it has to offer.
Much gratitude for reading.
It wasn’t actually the delicious smell that woke me up, it was one of those occipital migraines that alter my senses. Fortunately my nose was working, so evidence of Thanksgiving still wafted through the vents as I covered my head and eyes. This is not happening, I told myself, then quickly returned to reality long enough to take some medication. After sleeping for a short time, I awoke to find the pain had intensified. I started doing breathing exercises and, in order to take another combination of medicines, forced some yogurt down (an especially fun endeavor when migraine- induced nausea takes over). Back to sleep I went praying for relief, and it happened: The Thanksgiving fairy sprinkled her dust on me and flew away with the migraine. Thank you.
In the midst of some of these migraines I feel like a victim of Huck's (from Scandal) power drill. I’m not particularly grateful since I'm in a sort of survival mode. Yet when the goods are being delivered by somebody less torture-addicted than Huck, I voice aloud that thankfully this migraine is not the power drill type.
Holding the experience of pain and gratitude simultaneously can be tricky for many. Understandably, long-term pain can make a person feel too depressed, angry or scared to recognize the good stuff. Some feel more gratitude because they realize they took things for granted prior to pain. Those with fluctuating pain know that at any time it can get worse; a good incentive to appreciate the moments with "less pain." Same concept applies for flair-ups and remembering that the extreme pain will subside at some point.
There are certain instances when having gratitude is last on my priority list, when pain is so intense that I'm in a mode of desperation. That feels healthier than acting as a robot spurting out pre-programmed statements with no truth. Fortunately, the majority of the time being grateful is a part of me that makes life better. To be fair, I’m pretty sure my propensity toward gratitude isn't related to any type of focused practice but has more to do with the gene that was studied. Wherever it comes from, gratitude helps immensely with the increase in pain and resulting adjustments I continue to make in my life.
Years ago I attended some woo-woo workshop I'm a sucker for and the facilitator had us write down twenty things we were grateful about and then say them aloud. One of my list items was "Walking." As the leader remarked on some of our responses she reflected on mine saying, “Yes, we can even be grateful for things that are a given, like walking.” A given?! I thought. At that time in my life I would have scoffed at the suggestion that my mobility could be compromised in the future, but that didn’t mean I
should take it for granted. I still knew that not everybody is able to walk, that the movement eased some of my arthritis pain and that I loved the way my spirit instantly lifted when I walked. It would remain on my list.
On a more global scale, we all know that Syrians have been fleeing their country to arrive at their destination with absolutely no material possessions or promise of comfort. At the same time, a group of Americans are staging protests proclaiming entitlement to having their precious Starbucks cups look more festive. What a luxury for those who are able to step out of their heated home, dressed in one of their countless outfits and head to their very own heated car with money to spend on coffee drinks again this year. I would hope that their important cause wouldn't preclude them from having gratitude for these and other things in life. Then again, considering all the suffering they have to endure by holding those terribly plain red coffee cups, I can see how being thankful for what they have would be such a struggle.
For the rest of us, regardless of when or how we experience gratitude, I say we make a practice of it in a way it makes most sense to us. When feeling grateful doesn't happen naturally, just zoom over to the cognitive part of the brain and take inventory. You might be surprised to see how much it has to offer.
Much gratitude for reading.
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