Do you think about what you are saying? Do you realize that you are thanking Hashem that you woke up this morning? How often do we really stop and think about how grateful we are for life?
I chose today as the day that I will publicly thank Hashem that I am alive today. Here is why.
When I was younger, I was very into the "Great Brain" books, by John D. Fitzgerald. These are books set in a small town about a hundred years ago. I don't remember which one, but one of the books discussed a topic which made a really big impression on me until today. In the book, a little boy was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Because this story took place before the doctors knew anything about diabetes or how to treat it, this was how the diagnosis went:
Doctor: your son has diabetes.
Distraught parents: so what do we do?
Doctor: take your son home and make him happy, because he will be dead within a few months.
That's what it was. As simple as that. Diabetes meant death. All that changed 87 years ago today. Why am I still here? Because on February 5th, 1922 insulin was discovered. Imagine this day from the perspective of parents who had been told on February 1st that their child has diabetes and is going to die within a few months. They are trying so hard to come to terms with it, can barely cope with the news. Suddenly, just five days later they hear about this miracle treatment of diabetes. Suddenly they find out that their son is not going to die after all. Do you think they would ever take life for granted again? Do you think I can? This video, which describes the history of insulin and it's discovery, really reinforces this feeling. Had I been born just 100 years earlier, I wouldn't have lived to see the wonderful(?) years of teenhood.
While, no, insulin is not a cure, it is life support. It allows me to live the rest of my life just like anyone else. And, as much as I don't want to have diabetes, I'd definitely take it over the alternative: death.
So, please join me, spread the word: I decided that I am proclaiming today to be "Appreciate Your Life Day". It might sound very emotional and perhaps overly female of me, but I don't care. I am so lucky to live in a time of great medical advances.
I am so lucky to live.
So, please join me, spread the word: I decided that I am proclaiming today to be "Appreciate Your Life Day". It might sound very emotional and perhaps overly female of me, but I don't care. I am so lucky to live in a time of great medical advances.
I am so lucky to live.
11 comments:
Lately "Appreciate Your Life Day" is my every day. Sometimes I feel like shouting at everyone to start showing their gratitude to God before they have to learn the hard way.
every day is a blessing to be appreciated...
(is that nice enough for you? ;) don't you dare use this against me at a later date!)
BC21- you BET! (Was that too spiritual for you?) And what is my grade?
LS- of course I will! Daily!! It sure is!
This was a different kind of spiritual. Maybe we have different definitions of that too.
I'm not grading this one.
Scary! Never thought of it like that...but so true! Let's make every day, "Appreciate your life day".
BC21- I am pretty sure we have different definitions of everything.
Whyever not?
HS- Obviously, we should never take life for granted, but I like the idea of taking one day of serious introspection. There are lots of people who don't get to live to this point. Every day is a gift. Today i am going to try to make the most out of my day, to pay Hashem back for the incredible gift He gives me constantly.
Very inspirational! A reminder to appreciate the advancement of todays technologies.
Thanks for the link, it's been a while since I last watched it;)
SD, I don't know what you were referring to when you asked "whyever not?"
Inspired- Yes, I should really watch it again, huh?
BC21- Why won't you grade this one?
I don't feel like it. Simple as that.
I remember reading one of those Great Brian books.
I like the sound of appreciate your life day. Lately I'm really appreciating what I have.
and that's a great positive side to see.
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