I’m Truly Thankful!!!

I feel like I want to testify –I’m Truly Thankful!!!

I woke up this morning like every other morning. I’m a creature of habit (folks that I know who follow the stars say it’s the Libra in me…Balanced). I rolled over and stretched for 10 minutes….Slid off the bed so my feet would hit the floor….Spent another 10 minutes doing my physical therapy exercises…..Once done, I was able to stand straight…..Off to the kitchen I went to make coffee….Took a few sips…..Walked the grand puppies…..Same routine every morning. Whenever I miss any of these steps, my whole day seems off. Once my daily routine is complete, it usually depends on how my back and leg feels before I decide how the rest of my day goes. Today, I’m now sitting on my patio with my laptop in tow, thinking about how thankful I am……

Let’s get the negative stuff out of the way now:

  • A horseback riding accident has left me disabled – four years, three surgeries, two cages, two rods and six screws in my spine.
  • I haven’t been able to work for four years.
  • Lack of funds doesn’t allow for any extras.
  • I don’t have a car – A first since I was 18.
  • I had no immediate family in Rochester.

Now that all the negative stuff is out of the way…. let me tell you why I’m thankful:
  • Yes, the condition the horseback riding accident left me in was horrible! After years of dealing with the injury, it finally caught up with me and I couldn’t walk from the pain. Each surgery I had made it a little better. I’m not where I would like to be, but SO MUCH better than I was.
  • After two years of fighting the system, I was granted disability insurance. There are so many others still fighting, some for years, so I am VERY blessed.
  • I don’t have any extra money once my bills are paid. But my bills are paid, I have food and most importantly, I have Internet!!! Lol!!
  • I don’t have a car but have always gotten a way to get where I need to go, sometimes even having a loaner car to get around.
  • I’m now living in Phoenix near my daughter.
  • I may not be the same person I was physically, but I know when to rest and how to prepare for activities. My heart has remained the same.

I AM TRULY GRATEFUL!! I no longer complain about what I don’t have because what I do have is such a blessing and I don’t take any of it for granted. I’m beginning to feel like Ella again!

Remember those “extras” I mentioned I’m not able to do? I’ve been overwhelmed with blessings raining down on me. First and most importantly, I was able to get some much-needed dental work done, with no insurance, with the help of a few people. If you know me, you know this one was MAJOR!!!! Tonight, I’m going to see Tiffany Haddish live and, in a few weeks, I’ll be crossing an item off my bucket list – seeing Justin Timberlake live!!! At the end of March, I will finally get to see Alvin Ailey Dance live!!! (SN: Phoenix has a HUGE number of events coming through here…You’d go broke trying to attend everything!!). To look back on the last couple years and see where I’m at now, literally makes me cry tears of joy! I was talking to one of my “adopted kids” last week, telling him how all these wonderful things keep happening to me! He said, “everything that is happening to you is the same thing you’ve done for other people – it’s your turn to get some things in return!” I never do things looking for something in return, but Lord knows I’m very grateful ALL of the things coming my way!!! An old friend once told me that being good and honest wouldn’t get me anywhere! There were times I thought he was right. I know now, without a shadow of doubt, he was wrong!!!

Take a moment out of your busy day…. Say thank you….Be Grateful….And like I always say, “What will you do to #PayItForward today? #KindnessIsFree!”

Being Thankful has made The Dean’s List




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Memories of Mrs. Gloria Langston

Image
  I’ve known Mrs. Langston since I was 16. That’s when I started working at WDKX Radio as an intern. I didn’t work with her often, but would often type letters for her or do filing. I knew I had to be on point whenever I worked on something for her.   She was my boss then, but it wasn’t until I or year or two before I moved to Phoenix in 2002 that our friendship began.   I would often see her at the station while I worked on several events. I would help her with using the computer, but we never quite mastered text messaging. I helped in staging a property she was selling (yes, she was a realtor) and hired her as my realtor to sell my house prior to me moving to Phoenix. When she came to Phoenix for a National Toastmasters event, I moved into the hotel with her and accompanied her to all the events so she wouldn't be alone. We had such a good time! She loved the mountain views from her balcony.   Once I moved back to Rochester in 2008, we became very close. I attended Toastmas
Read more

Looking For A Hot Tub Salesman

Image
I originally wrote this in 2001 for the Democrat & Chronicle while serving on the Board of Contributors. My daughter was getting ready to start her senior year in high school We all remember that TV commercial a few years ago that showed  the  man riding on a shopping cart down  the  aisles of a office supply store.  He was celebrating  the  fact that his kids were going back to school.  All parents know that  the  closer September gets every year,  the  happier we become.  Summers can be a very stressful time for parents.  Trying to find activities to keep kids busy and safe can be almost impossible at times.  Fact is, school is out, but work goes on.  Every year, I have taken  the  first week of school off as vacation from my job just so I could exhale. Now, do you also remember  the  TV commercial for  the  same office supply company where  the  parents are measuring their child’s room so they can install a hot tub?  I always smiled when I saw that commercial because
Read more

Dear Michael.....I Remember The Time

Image
I wrote this letter to Michael Jackson shortly after he died. Today marks 8 years since he passed away...     Me holding my very first album Dearest Michael, A piece of my heart died last Thursday.  I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news.  How could you be gone?  I haven’t stopped thinking and reminiscing about you since.  I will never forget the times I spent with you. You came into my life the same day I bought the Jackson 5’s first album – which was my first album too – well the first one I ever owned.  “Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5” never left my record player for months after I got it.  From the first listen to “I Want You Back” and “Who’s Loving You” and how cute you looked on the album cover – I knew you were the one for me.  There are so many times I remember from that day forward….. I Remember The Time ….When the Jackson 5 came to Rochester in the early 70’s.  My sister was allowed to go, but I couldn’t.  I cried for hours into my pillow while
Read more