I don my gloves and begin spraying the shower walls. As I move on to scrubbing the toilet, I realize I’m happy and perhaps even excited. I never thought I would be eager to clean the bathrooms, but some health issues a few weeks ago forced me to spend seven to eight days in bed.
I was antsy to get back to teaching my classes, running, and just feeling normal. Cleaning bathrooms has never been high on my list of fun things, so I was surprised I was excited to be doing just that. I guess not being able to do something, no matter how mundane, can make you grateful when you are able to do it.
My recent illness along with the approach of Thanksgiving have nudged me to consider what else I am thankful for. Near the top of my list is glasses/contacts. Without them everything would be blurry, and I would be severely limited in what I could do. Additionally, I wouldn’t be able to visually enjoy our beautiful world. Flowers would just be splotches of color unless I was only a few inches away and I would have difficulty identifying birds and butterflies.
Another medical innovation I’m thankful for is pacemakers. My dad has had one for several years and without it I’m not sure he’d still be here. One of my grandpas had a pacemaker too, and I’m glad pacemaker technology has improved. Microwaves used to interfere with the pacemaker signals so we couldn’t use a microwave if Grandpa was around.
Iron pills and other medications also make my gratitude list. Before I started taking iron, I would run out of energy partway through the day even if I was well rested. I’m glad we have ways to make up for necessary substances our bodies are lacking.
I’m also thankful for friends and family who push me to look at things differently. Sharing differing perspectives and world views helps me be more understanding and often results in me adjusting my own perspective. I’ve also had help this way as we’ve been remodeling. I’ve lived in my house for about 20 years now and as I’ve considered how to renovate, I tend to just want to update what is already there and keep the furniture how it’s always been. Having my son tell me to not just get a newer version of the same thing and my sister suggest rearranging or even getting rid of furniture opens my mind to contemplate new possibilities that will work better for me.
Family and friends can also provide love and support, so I appreciate easy means of communication. My siblings, children, and grandchildren live all over the country and staying connected takes effort. Calling, texting, emailing, writing letters, and video calling make that task less challenging. I also appreciate good roads and air travel that allow me to visit my family without too much trouble. GPS navigation systems are another helpful tool in my efforts to visit family or get to new places.
Finally, I’m glad that gratitude helps me when I’m feeling discouraged. I tried to find things I could appreciate during my recent illness. Maybe my regular breakfast wasn’t appealing, but I was happy to discover that a piece of toast and a slice of cheese were manageable. At other challenging times, I’ve been cheered by noticing birds in my yard, hearing a favorite song, rereading meaningful passages, or contemplating things on my gratitude list. What’s on your gratitude list?
Susan Cox is one of The Republic’s community columnists, and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. She is an avid reader, an outdoor enthusiast, a mother, a grandmother, and an adjunct instructor of English at Indiana University Columbus. Send comments to editorial@therepublic.com.
