Gratitude part 2: the things I love

In my last post, I talked about the simple thought of feeling gratitude for my body and all it can still do. It has changed the way I think and the way I react to pain: I don’t go back and beat myself up as much about why I am in pain, instead I try to tell myself, “I can feel grateful for all the parts of me that still do the little that they are able to right now, and I can do the small things that make me happy!”

Today I will talk about how I started to feel gratitude for the other things around me. I took a piece of paper, and wrote down all the beautiful and wonderful things in my life that I am happy for. It looked something like this:

~ the cutest cuddly toys ever (they are so cute!!!)
~ my amazing mum who has looked out for me since I was very small and still does so much for me!
~ my wonderful boyfriend, who has been with me through it all and has also bought me lots of cuddly toys when I was down 🙂
~ yummy food
~ lovely friends who visit me and bring takeaway food!
~ moving to a new home through a social housing exchange scheme (I am now in a more accessible flat, which is also much warmer than the old one!)
~ my colourful clothes and love of sewing (even though I’m only learning)
~ the opportunity to learn about meditation and yoga 
~ my love of reading, all the wonder that books have brought me and all the excitement for the books that I have yet to read! 
~ disney films
~ nature: the park near my flat and also regents park in central London which I know I will get to visit again soon!
~the amazing and thoughtful postcards and letters I receive from my friend who lives in South Africa. About 6 months ago, when I wasn’t able to leave the house, these would arrive every few days and cheer me up so much..and they still continue to do so! They’re very artistic / photos of the beautiful animals that can be found in South Africa, and his postcards always bring a smile to my face 🙂 

Gratitude: part 1

Last week, I had just done a very light yoga session. Despite the yoga being very gentle, I still felt frustrated that my capability had reduced so much – I felt dizzy even sitting up for a few minutes, and my legs were in pain – every time I put weight on them they hurt, and I was in a panicked state. But as my yoga teacher started the last relaxation part of our yoga class, something shifted. 

“Feel gratitude for your wonderful legs..your legs that carry you and bear your weight, even if it is only for very short distances for now..be thankful to your legs, that are a part of you…

Be grateful to your  beating heart, for even when it is under pressure, it beats so well in order to pump blood to all the parts of your body that need it most” 

These words had a profound effect on me. I realised I needed to be kinder to my body. I am where I am, and I need to accept where I am. You may ask – how can I accept that when I wish I wasn’t like this? But right now, that is where you are. It doesn’t help to be upset and angry at yourself for being where you are right now. 

If my legs hurt today even more than they did yesterday,  I am still grateful to my body for working as much as it is, right now.  In fact, nothing can change where I am right now. So I make the most of all around me, in the present moment. This way of thinking brings me a lot of comfort. 

To end, here’s a sweet picture of Pooh and Piglet!

image source:http://advantage.edu.pl/