When I spoke to Peter recently, he was in the last week of a month-long trip to Florida with his wife. Peter shared how much he appreciated the warm weather as he was able to swim, bike, and run outside plus eat outside in restaurants. He was not looking forward to traveling back to colder weather in Florida. Rather than focus on what he was giving up, he came up with a list of things to look forward to when they arrived back in Maryland.
I like that idea: Identify the things to forward to or am grateful for in an otherwise less than perfect situations. If I focus on gratitude, I can apply this idea to “bad” things that have happened to me in the past.
For example, when I was 23, I was diagnosed and treated for cancer. There were a lot of “bad” things that came from that experience including the cancer, potential long-term effects of radiation therapy as treatment, and my medical discharge from the Navy. Yet, when I look back now, I am grateful for my cancer for many reasons including:
- My cancer motivated me to a super healthy and fit lifestyle. As I approach the age of 50, I still have excellent health and fitness with no physical limitations.
- Because of my fitness, I achieved my dreams to become a professional athlete in triathlon.
- With the realization that I might die any time, I began to appreciate my life more than I did before.
- I started prioritizing experiences and adventures over climbing the corporate ladder.
- The cancer started me on a path of personal growth and meaning-making that I continue today. I’m currently pursuing a PhD in East-West Psychology so that I can continue down the rabbit hole.
- I’m writing about my experience of having cancer now. Maybe someone else with cancer will read this and be inspired.
I appreciate Peter sharing the ten things he’s looking forward to when he gets back to Maryland, as his example is a reminder that there are often many things to be grateful for if we only take the time to acknowledge them.
Kindly,
David