A little while ago I just called my best friend from college days. I have tried to get her several times in the past days with no response, which is not all that unusual. Today, a male voice answered, which is very unusual. It was her husband. He couldn't have been nicer, talking with me for quite a while.
K has had health concerns for as long as I can remember. We often talk about her health, life, death and never miss a moment to tell the other, "I love you." Most of the time we laugh and make obnoxious comments about little things that don't matter, often at 3 a.m. when neither of us can sleep. She has had more life than a cat with nine lives... one ailment after another, each one worse than the one before.
Yesterday, she had a stroke, needing the rescue squad to take her to the hospital. An MRI will be done today. No wonder she didn't respond the past couple days to my calls. Something indeed was going on. Of course, I'm worried, sad and fearful. Most of all it is all personal because of the possibility of losing my dear friend.
This next week we will celebrate Thanksgiving, with lots of adjustments and modifications for many. November is often termed a "gratitude" month, especially in the 12 Step recovery world. But oh, how difficult it is when real life hits, when our normal schedule and contacts change and we yearn and long for "what was!"
I think living in the present, "not going there" thinking about the future or what can't be right now is the best thing in order to get through some times. With Thanksgiving, many of us will be enjoying the day with a very few at the table, compared to other years; some will spend it alone because of restrictions of facilities they are in. Life can be a huge adjustment on many fronts for a lot of us.
We will all get through whatever faces us, one way or another. It may be a big adjustment, or not. Either way, I know things are easier to deal with if we can tap into an attitude of gratitude for any little thing in our day. Fear, sadness, change and transitions are part of all of our lives even if each of our details are different.
So, for what are you grateful? To whom can you tell, "I love you" or to simply call and tell them you are thinking of them. Maybe you have written notes, taken a meal or extended yourself in some manner. These actions may not change this coming week at all but they do help us cope and manage a possibly challenging time. Our attitude and actions help us as well as the other person!
Happy and blessed Thanksgiving to each and every one of
you!
