“I want my medical team to know that I know that they don’t know as much as they think they know about my diabetes.”
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
~ Epicurus
Not everyone likes Oprah but most of us agree that she has worked herself to where she is versus being handed everything. My mom saved an article for me where she talks about gratitude. I was amazed to read what Oprah considers the most life changing thing she has done. For many years she has kept a journal and each morning she has written down 5 things she is grateful for. It forces a person into a habit of looking at what they do have versus what they don’t. She goes on to talk about gratitude and the unique power it can have on our lives.
I’ve read in many places that gratitude is the single most transformative thing we can use in life. It begs positivity, streamlines focus away from feelings of inadequacy, and brings with it a healthy rush of feelings to the body that support positive decisions.
I believe that those of us with diabetes who practice gratitude on a consistent basis really benefit. Not only does having a chronic illness usually cause us to be more aware and sensitive towards the plights of others but couple that with gratitude and you have an amazing potential for a life filled with meaning and depth beyond many people’s reach.
So while I’m not grateful for having diabetes, I am grateful for what I’ve learned and who I am because of it. And when my blood sugar is 102 and I feel perfectly healthy, I feel like I’m in heaven while others don’t even recognize the beauty and freedom of feeling great. I could feel jealous of non diabetics but I choose to feel grateful for the advantage of my perspective. It makes life better. But it is a choice and a habit. I think writing down things we’re grateful for is an excellent idea. Thanks, Oprah.
