I’ve Got An Attitude Of Gratitude

When the editors of BlackLoveandMarriage.com asked me to write a piece on gratitude, I immediately thought about my marriage and being grateful for still being married to my husband. I mean that is what I normally write about and it seems to fit the theme of Black love and MARRIAGE, right? But while I am grateful for my marriage, my family, my job, and continuing personal growth; I am also very grateful for my health.Huh? What? I am grateful for my health. I’ve had 7 surgeries in 12 years. Yep, you read that right. Seven. And that’s just the surgeries. I’ve made repeat extended stay visits to the hospital in-between those surgeries. It’s pretty bad. Actually it’s so bad that my 2011 New Year’s resolution was to stay out of the hospital. Unfortunately I was admitted to the hospital for 4 days on 1/2/11. That’s the kind of chronic, reoccurring illness that I have.

Anyone with a chronic illness knows that treating it is tough. It’s a constant battle. But diagnosing it is even harder. I spent years in and out of doctor’s offices trying to figure out why I was in so much pain. Years of misdiagnosing. Years of functioning through the pain. Years of wondering if I was actually crazy. I visited so many doctors that I keep a list of surgeries and medications typed up and would fax/email my information to them in advanced because I was so tired for repeating myself. I would watch medical mysteries and “House MD” and pray that some doctor would help me the same way.

So if I have medical issues how can I be thankful for health? Easy. I had my “House MD” moment. And while the problem is recurring at least I know what I am dealing with. I’ve learned how to manage it. I’ve learned how to call a time out when I am feeling bad so that I am down for just 1-2 days instead of weeks.

So what exactly am I grateful for? Each time I went into the hospital, I got to come home at the end of my stay. Some folks can’t say that. Some folks moved to the morgue, but I didn’t. Each time I have been ill, my friends and family have gathered to take care of me and my children. Other people can’t say that, but I can. While my job may complain about the amount of time that I’ve been off from work, they have always preserved my job for me. Some people can’t say that, but I can. My good days out number my bad. Some people can’t say that, but I can.

While some people can say that their health is perfect, I can’t say that. But what I can say is that I am grateful for the health that I do have.

 Neysa Ellery Taylor is an integral part of the writing team here at Blackloveandmarriage.com. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, Chris, and their 4 children – Asyen, Maya, Preston, and Patrick. An Emmy-Award winning journalist, she hopes to share her passion for marriage and God through her writing. You can read more of her work atMyriadthatisme.blogspot.com.