One Day at a Time

I went to the doctor yesterday and found that I have a new health problem to contend with. I had the opportunity a few days ago to look at this Bible  verse and I realized that I had not thought about the importance of the word "consider." And I started considering all the gifts I have been given: I can walk. I have a good mind. I can still drive a car. I can read. I can do this blog. I can see a sunset. I have a wonderful wife, daughter, and grandson. My blessings far outweigh my challenges.
     I am in a lot of pain and my new pain medication has a lot of side effects so I have decided to use an over the counter medicine for discomfort.  The funny thing about writing is that for some reason it puts me in the zone: I  forget about my pain. Art does the same thing. I said this yesterday, and it bears repeating,  "gratitude is a matter of perspective." Twila Paris. For some reason when I change my perspective I am better able to contend with a new emergency . But it can be difficult for me to focus on the positive when I am frightened. Being ill is kind of like losing control of  myself and if I'm not living one day at a time there is always the fear that things will continue to worsen as time goes by. But there is no guarantee of this.  It can just as easily go the other way: Things may continue to improve. The natural tendency is to get scared that there will be an increasing loss of control of my body. Keeping little inspirational quotes all around me reminds me to focus on the positive. This  does not come naturally. Internalizing  these little positive messages is a real challenge when I am  sick. I have to consciously focus on the positive message they hold. This has led to a long period of  attempting to comprehend the idea that I am in control of the way I  react to this illness. . For some it may be natural to go into a fight with all  their weapons at the ready. Some people are good in a crisis. For me it has been  an incredibly long learning curve. I think it takes courage and resourcefulness to face something that has the potential to harm us.  I am the kind that has had to learn to prepare for the battle ahead.  I hope these words will inspire someone else out there who is battling illness  to pick up the sword and shield and go forward into another day of battle. I once heard it said that  courage is fear that has said its prayers. In the words of Sir Winston Churchill:  "Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing."
  One day at a time... Have a great day and may God be with you. Dale

 (If you click on the drawing it will appear approximately life-sized.)