Hello and Merry Christmas (at the time of this writing December 24th, 2017)
It does not feel very much like Christmas in my little beach town of Santa Barbara. The weather has been very warm. There has been the ongoing Thomas Fire which is now the largest in California's history. The result of this had much of Santa Barbara and surrounding areas evacuated and left many local businesses empty and deserted.
Anytime "life" happens, I always try to take a step back from it and think: "what is their to learn from this? What lesson(s) can I take away? How can I use this to make my life better? What can I extrapolate from this that I can share with others to help them make their lives better?"
I distilled all these thoughts/feelings down into this week's "Weekly Wisdom" training which I hosted on my Facebook page. In this training I talk about:
The power of changing the context of your problems.
One huge mindset shift that may lead to an enormous positive financial shift.
How we can instantly enhance our life by celebrating hero's and showing a deep appreciation for all.
If you have any questions about what I covered in the below training, feel free to leave them in the comments, or you can email me by clicking here.
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge
.
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Thomas Fire Introspection
Hi!
If you have been watching the news at all you may have seen some of the reports about the Thomas Fire which has been affecting Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
I call Santa Barbara home - I love my little beach community.
The Thomas Fire (at the time of this writing is currently the 3rd largest in California history) broke out on Monday night December 4th. It quickly decimated 100's of homes in neighboring Ventura (approximately 30 miles south of Santa Barbara).
As the fire grew, smoke began to pour into Santa Barbara causing our air quality to plummet down to an unhealthy and hazardous level. This basically means do not go outside unless you have to and if you do go outside wear a mask.
Over the last two weeks the fire has grown enormous affecting other towns like Santa Paula, Filmore, Ojai, Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecitio, and now Santa Barbara.
Yesterday, (Saturday December 16th) a large portion of Santa Barbara, Montecito, & Summerland was put on a mandatory evacuation. The scene was a bit surreal as nearly every major highway/road was already closed due to the fire and an untimely oil tanker spill on highway 101 (our main highway) had closed down part of that road too.
There is a gamut of emotions I've experienced these past few weeks - everything from absolute awe & wonderment at the raw power of mother nature, to guilt for feeling that awe and wonderment when so many have lost so much & are struggling.
There has been moments of anger at some of the insensitivity shown by the small few.
There has been a overwhelming, in a good way, amount of love as I have seen so many people trying to help other people.
There has been some frustration when I see headlines in the media that insist on using terms like "wealthy" to designate whose homes are at risk? (Side rant: they are people whose home's are at risk. To me it seems like it is an effort to stir up the emotional pot. Why isn't it sufficient to just say "people's homes are at risk?" If any economic class should be emphasized in the media it should be the people who already had so little. Focus on them for they need help and do not need to be forgotten by shifting the focus away from them. This does not need to be a wealthy vs not wealthy focus. The fire does not care how much money a person has or does not have, so why should we?)
There has been a near constant feeling of gratitude for the fire fighters and other people who are doing everything they can to keep us safe. Its remarkable to see footage and photos of what they are up against.
There has been a reminder to be more patient with myself and show myself some grace as I've had a couple moments of feeling overwhelmed. During these moments I remind myself to stop, take a breath, & reconsider what I am reacting to.
There has been a desire to serve and to find ways to help those who have lost so much.
There has been a curiosity - I've watched more news these last two weeks (only the local news as it's been fire focused) than I have this entire year.
I've seen & heard remarkable stories of people coming together to help one another. People offering to house and shelter strangers and displaced pets. I've heard stories about people bringing food to first responders. I personally was able to witness an enormous amount of donated food, clothes, and other supplies.
Below are some photos/video I have taken over the last couple weeks with a few thoughts on each.
These past two weeks have been a reminder that life can happen at any time and at any time life can change the game you have been playing. Love fully. Be grateful. Support and cheer for one another. Be a friend. Laugh often. Don't wait till tomorrow.
With love,
Jesse
I took the above photo Thursday morning from Stern's Wharf in Santa Barbara. I felt a mix of awe looking at the power of Mother Nature, fear of what she is capable of, and guilt. Guilt for feeling awe at a time when so many have lost so much.
The smoke has been so thick here the last few weeks that if you can see the sun it looks like this (taken at approximately 8am). I read that the smoke is so thick that it is lowering the air temperature by 10+ degrees from what it really is because the sun is obstructed.
On Saturday the 9th I was lucky enough to get to volunteer for a couple hours in Ventura helping package up clothes, food, and other supplies people have donated to those who had lost their homes. This room is one of many similar looking rooms that was filled with donated items. It was so touching to see the outpouring of support of people helping other people.
It has been literally raining ash in Santa Barbara for most of the last two weeks.
Sunrise (first time we had had a clear-ish sky in over a week) with a mask.
Smoke pouring down from the hills on Saturday December 16th about an hour before I evacuated
The sun was so obstructed by the smoke that it looked like this! No filter, no photo shop, nothing!
I love this picture because I feel it captures what so many have been feeling - a deep sense of gratitude for the firefighters and other emergency personal who have been working so hard to keep us and our homes safe. They are fighting a fight in horrible terrain, unpredictable winds, extremely dry conditions, and so much more. They have saved countless homes, buildings, and lives because of their ongoing efforts. I've seen several other signs around the community of people thanking other people.
If you have been watching the news at all you may have seen some of the reports about the Thomas Fire which has been affecting Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
I call Santa Barbara home - I love my little beach community.
The Thomas Fire (at the time of this writing is currently the 3rd largest in California history) broke out on Monday night December 4th. It quickly decimated 100's of homes in neighboring Ventura (approximately 30 miles south of Santa Barbara).
As the fire grew, smoke began to pour into Santa Barbara causing our air quality to plummet down to an unhealthy and hazardous level. This basically means do not go outside unless you have to and if you do go outside wear a mask.
Over the last two weeks the fire has grown enormous affecting other towns like Santa Paula, Filmore, Ojai, Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecitio, and now Santa Barbara.
There is a gamut of emotions I've experienced these past few weeks - everything from absolute awe & wonderment at the raw power of mother nature, to guilt for feeling that awe and wonderment when so many have lost so much & are struggling.
There has been moments of anger at some of the insensitivity shown by the small few.
There has been a overwhelming, in a good way, amount of love as I have seen so many people trying to help other people.
There has been some frustration when I see headlines in the media that insist on using terms like "wealthy" to designate whose homes are at risk? (Side rant: they are people whose home's are at risk. To me it seems like it is an effort to stir up the emotional pot. Why isn't it sufficient to just say "people's homes are at risk?" If any economic class should be emphasized in the media it should be the people who already had so little. Focus on them for they need help and do not need to be forgotten by shifting the focus away from them. This does not need to be a wealthy vs not wealthy focus. The fire does not care how much money a person has or does not have, so why should we?)
There has been a near constant feeling of gratitude for the fire fighters and other people who are doing everything they can to keep us safe. Its remarkable to see footage and photos of what they are up against.
There has been a reminder to be more patient with myself and show myself some grace as I've had a couple moments of feeling overwhelmed. During these moments I remind myself to stop, take a breath, & reconsider what I am reacting to.
There has been a desire to serve and to find ways to help those who have lost so much.
There has been a curiosity - I've watched more news these last two weeks (only the local news as it's been fire focused) than I have this entire year.
I've seen & heard remarkable stories of people coming together to help one another. People offering to house and shelter strangers and displaced pets. I've heard stories about people bringing food to first responders. I personally was able to witness an enormous amount of donated food, clothes, and other supplies.
Below are some photos/video I have taken over the last couple weeks with a few thoughts on each.
These past two weeks have been a reminder that life can happen at any time and at any time life can change the game you have been playing. Love fully. Be grateful. Support and cheer for one another. Be a friend. Laugh often. Don't wait till tomorrow.
With love,
Jesse
I took the above photo Thursday morning from Stern's Wharf in Santa Barbara. I felt a mix of awe looking at the power of Mother Nature, fear of what she is capable of, and guilt. Guilt for feeling awe at a time when so many have lost so much.
The smoke has been so thick here the last few weeks that if you can see the sun it looks like this (taken at approximately 8am). I read that the smoke is so thick that it is lowering the air temperature by 10+ degrees from what it really is because the sun is obstructed.
On Saturday the 9th I was lucky enough to get to volunteer for a couple hours in Ventura helping package up clothes, food, and other supplies people have donated to those who had lost their homes. This room is one of many similar looking rooms that was filled with donated items. It was so touching to see the outpouring of support of people helping other people.
It has been literally raining ash in Santa Barbara for most of the last two weeks.
Overnight ash accumulation on the windshield.
Scrolling through twitter looking for updates 99% of what you see is well wishes, kind words, and offers of support/help. There is a small % of messages like this. At first I was mad at this person. then I was mad at media & political organizations (among others) who have been working overtime to create a negative view of wealth and an emotional division between wealthy and not wealthy. An "Us vs Them" dynamic. Then I took a deep breath and began to feel for this person. I'm not sure what their life has been like to lead them to have such an outlook on the world and other human beings. It's not my place to judge them as I do not know them, nor do I want to judge them. I sincerely hope they can find a path to travel that brings them to a place where in the future they will feel empathy to those who are struggling & perhaps want to love and support when possible.
Sunrise (first time we had had a clear-ish sky in over a week) with a mask.
Smoke pouring down from the hills on Saturday December 16th about an hour before I evacuated
The sun was so obstructed by the smoke that it looked like this! No filter, no photo shop, nothing!
I love this picture because I feel it captures what so many have been feeling - a deep sense of gratitude for the firefighters and other emergency personal who have been working so hard to keep us and our homes safe. They are fighting a fight in horrible terrain, unpredictable winds, extremely dry conditions, and so much more. They have saved countless homes, buildings, and lives because of their ongoing efforts. I've seen several other signs around the community of people thanking other people.
Sunday, October 29, 2017
Three Ways to Instantly Become More Passionate About Life
Passion...
A word that when you hear it you want what is the source of it.
We see people throughout life who have "it." The "it" they have is passion.
Whether it is in their relationship, their career, their family, or just how they interact with life; there is no mistaking a passionate person.
The big myth about passion is that it is reserved only for those who were born with it; meaning you either won the genetic lottery and have it, or you don't.
Nothing could be further from the truth for passion is not something you are born with, it is something you create. And who doesn't want to create more passion in their life?
As fate would have it, you are a born creator - born to create an emotional experience that brings you joy and fulfillment every day of your life.
Unfortunately most of us are not taught these tools in school - after all we have other, more important things to focus on like The symbolism of the green light at the end of the pier in "The Great Gatsby," (Why can't the light just be green?).
Recently I hosted a training where I shared three ways you can instantly become more passionate about life. You can watch that training below. These ways are simple strategies that anyone can do, but to do them will require you to step up to the plate of life and command more from yourself than you have before.
I hope the training was of value to you.
Let me know in the comments below.
As always if I can be of any help on your journey, you can let me know by contacting me here.
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge
.
A word that when you hear it you want what is the source of it.
We see people throughout life who have "it." The "it" they have is passion.
Whether it is in their relationship, their career, their family, or just how they interact with life; there is no mistaking a passionate person.
The big myth about passion is that it is reserved only for those who were born with it; meaning you either won the genetic lottery and have it, or you don't.
Nothing could be further from the truth for passion is not something you are born with, it is something you create. And who doesn't want to create more passion in their life?
As fate would have it, you are a born creator - born to create an emotional experience that brings you joy and fulfillment every day of your life.
Unfortunately most of us are not taught these tools in school - after all we have other, more important things to focus on like The symbolism of the green light at the end of the pier in "The Great Gatsby," (Why can't the light just be green?).
Recently I hosted a training where I shared three ways you can instantly become more passionate about life. You can watch that training below. These ways are simple strategies that anyone can do, but to do them will require you to step up to the plate of life and command more from yourself than you have before.
I hope the training was of value to you.
Let me know in the comments below.
As always if I can be of any help on your journey, you can let me know by contacting me here.
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge
.
Sunday, October 15, 2017
The Importance and Power of Practicing Gratitude
One of my goals for 2017 has been to do an ongoing daily gratitude "challenge."
I say "challenge," because the challenge is to make a daily post (on Instagram which you can follow me on by clicking here.) about something I am grateful for, but really it has been such a gift - a gift to take time every day to be consciously aware and express gratitude for the gifts that life gives.
It can also be "challenging" to focus on gratitude when "life" happens.
Our default tendency seems to be to focus on the few things that go wrong (small or big) vs all the things that are going right. The "bad stuff," of life often happens over a series of moments. Much in the same that the "good stuff," is occurring from moment to moment too.
Where we miss out in life is when we define an entire day by what happens in a series of moments.
Perhaps this is just me being naive, but I have yet to meet a human being who has experienced 24 hours (1,440 moments) and within that time there was not one moment that could be classified as "good," or one thing that could not be found to be grateful for.
Gratitude is always there, sometimes you have to look a hell of a lot harder to see it, but it will be there.
Today I am sharing my most recent gratitude post with you. The reason being because it illustrates, in my opinion, about the power of gratitude and our ability to find and focus on it in the midst of challenging times. I'll let you read on...
365 Days Of Gratitude Day 286
I say "challenge," because the challenge is to make a daily post (on Instagram which you can follow me on by clicking here.) about something I am grateful for, but really it has been such a gift - a gift to take time every day to be consciously aware and express gratitude for the gifts that life gives.
It can also be "challenging" to focus on gratitude when "life" happens.
Our default tendency seems to be to focus on the few things that go wrong (small or big) vs all the things that are going right. The "bad stuff," of life often happens over a series of moments. Much in the same that the "good stuff," is occurring from moment to moment too.
Where we miss out in life is when we define an entire day by what happens in a series of moments.
Perhaps this is just me being naive, but I have yet to meet a human being who has experienced 24 hours (1,440 moments) and within that time there was not one moment that could be classified as "good," or one thing that could not be found to be grateful for.
Gratitude is always there, sometimes you have to look a hell of a lot harder to see it, but it will be there.
Today I am sharing my most recent gratitude post with you. The reason being because it illustrates, in my opinion, about the power of gratitude and our ability to find and focus on it in the midst of challenging times. I'll let you read on...
365 Days Of Gratitude Day 286
Today I am grateful for choice (there's a message in this one I hope you'll take to heart❤️).
I had an absolutely amazing first part of the day and a not so good last couple hours of the day, let me explain...
You've likely heard me say before that each and every day we have a choice in how we experience life. That ability to choose also empowers us to find and focus on things to be grateful for no matter what life may through at us.
Today is a perfect example: the majority of my day was amazing... it started early (about 3:45am) with some work, then I competed in the 3rd round of a public speaking competition which I won 1st place in! I'm excited and now I get the opportunity to go onto the finals and compete against some extremely talented professional speakers! (Yes in the speaking world we use terms like "compete" "tough" and "competition" lol).
Next I got to spend a couple hours wine tasting and enjoying lunch with a few special people.
At the end of the day I received word of a family emergency. The outcome does not look good. Lots of emotions came up.
How the day ended was shitty and sad, but how the day was lived and experienced before then was amazing.
If the focus is only on the shitty/sad part then I rob myself of the joy, the love, the sense of accomplishment etc... I experienced earlier in the day. I feel sadness in this moment, but I did not feel sadness for most of this day. In fact I felt the exact opposite of sadness. Enter in choice: define the day by my sadness? Or acknowledge the sadness, but also acknowledge there were a lot of great things about today.
Life will be hard, sometimes. Bad things will happen to good people, sometimes. Tragedies will occur, sometimes. Loved ones will leave us, sometimes. Life will seem unfair, sometimes.
Sometimes. Not ALL the time.
No matter what life gives you, you, and I, have a choice.
That's me for today. Now it is your turn. What are you grateful for?
Carpe Diem,
Sunday, December 11, 2016
I Cried When I Sold my Car
A couple weeks ago I bought a new car and as a part of that process traded in my old car.
The last few years I have had ongoing back problems which has limited a lot of the things I enjoy doing physically.
For the last year I have been pulling the magnifying glass out and looking at day to day behaviors in an attempt to asses where I can reduce certain movements and the toll they take.
One of the more taxing movements was getting in and out of my car.
Realizing this I began the process, about six months ago, to look for a new car.
I say "began the process," because I was not overly motivated to look. I still liked my car enough and it still had plenty of miles left in it, but as time went on it became more evident of what I was giving up by not moving forward.
Have you ever felt like that? Felt like you were giving something up by not moving forward? Felt like your unwillingness to change was keeping you from something more?
I did my research and when it finally came time to make a decision I began to feel sad at the prospect of saying goodbye to my "Little Car," (a name I have affectionately called it for the last eight years).
When I signed the papers for my new car, I walked outside to look through my "Little Car" to make sure I had got all my possessions and say goodbye. As I did this I began to cry. In that moment I was flooded with this deep feeling of gratitude I had for my Little Car.
I looked at it and saw so many memories in the 109,000 miles we had traveled together.
My Little Car was home to 1000's of laughs and tears. It was the vehicle that took me to so many amazing sunrise's and sunset's. It always got me safely from point A, B, C - Z and back again. It was what carried me to my Mom's house, in silence, after learning my Dad had died. It was where countless heart to heart's happened. My Little Car had so much good news shared within it's interior as well as housed a number of heartbreaks too.
All this and more came rushing back to me as I said goodbye to my Little Car - a Gratitude for it I had never felt before.
When I finally drove away from it, my heart was so filled with love and appreciation for it that I found myself thinking: "I want to feel this level of gratitude all the time."
Gratitude adds a deeper level of meaning in life and when you live your life from a place of gratitude you will find that there just isn't a lot of room for the "other stuff."
I am grateful for all the amazing moments experienced in my Little Car. I am extra grateful for the final amazing moment we shared together and the valuable life lesson that was contained within it: the importance of living each day from a place of love and gratitude.
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge
The last few years I have had ongoing back problems which has limited a lot of the things I enjoy doing physically.
For the last year I have been pulling the magnifying glass out and looking at day to day behaviors in an attempt to asses where I can reduce certain movements and the toll they take.
One of the more taxing movements was getting in and out of my car.
Realizing this I began the process, about six months ago, to look for a new car.
I say "began the process," because I was not overly motivated to look. I still liked my car enough and it still had plenty of miles left in it, but as time went on it became more evident of what I was giving up by not moving forward.
Have you ever felt like that? Felt like you were giving something up by not moving forward? Felt like your unwillingness to change was keeping you from something more?
I did my research and when it finally came time to make a decision I began to feel sad at the prospect of saying goodbye to my "Little Car," (a name I have affectionately called it for the last eight years).
When I signed the papers for my new car, I walked outside to look through my "Little Car" to make sure I had got all my possessions and say goodbye. As I did this I began to cry. In that moment I was flooded with this deep feeling of gratitude I had for my Little Car.
I looked at it and saw so many memories in the 109,000 miles we had traveled together.
My Little Car was home to 1000's of laughs and tears. It was the vehicle that took me to so many amazing sunrise's and sunset's. It always got me safely from point A, B, C - Z and back again. It was what carried me to my Mom's house, in silence, after learning my Dad had died. It was where countless heart to heart's happened. My Little Car had so much good news shared within it's interior as well as housed a number of heartbreaks too.
All this and more came rushing back to me as I said goodbye to my Little Car - a Gratitude for it I had never felt before.
When I finally drove away from it, my heart was so filled with love and appreciation for it that I found myself thinking: "I want to feel this level of gratitude all the time."
Gratitude adds a deeper level of meaning in life and when you live your life from a place of gratitude you will find that there just isn't a lot of room for the "other stuff."
I am grateful for all the amazing moments experienced in my Little Car. I am extra grateful for the final amazing moment we shared together and the valuable life lesson that was contained within it: the importance of living each day from a place of love and gratitude.
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
http://www.jessebrisendine.com
http://www.facebook.com/1year1000challenge
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Perspective: Life Lessons Learned in a Hospital Waiting Room
Hi Everyone,
I appologize for my absence from blogging, I have been spending a lot of time getting my business organized so I can deliver more and better content to you all. I hope everyone has been enjoying Katie's awesome blogs she has been putting up.
Has anyone tried her Cauliflower dish yet?
I had an experience the other day that I really wanted to share with you all as I think it serves as a powerful reminder that we all have so much to be grateful for.
On Tuesday I was at the doctors office having a consultation for an ongoing problem I have been having. I was feeling pretty bummed out. I have been dealing with this issue since September of last year. I have followed all recommendations, tried a variety of different treatments, changed my diet, visualized it healing, willed it away, and yet... it lingers.
This lingering problem leaves me in a fair amount of pain and discomfort throughout the day. Furthermore the medication for it is horrible. I take it and I instantly get a headache and feel like I am going to pass out. The headaches last for several hours and often times reach a migraine level of intensity.
What is worse than the pain is the way it has been affecting my lifestyle. Travel has been very hard as has been doing many of the outdoors and social things I really enjoy doing (hence the reason you all have not been seeing as many pictures from me as usual). I have been avoiding surgery because I have read one to many horror stories on the internet of worst case scenarios that happen during the operation. Usually I don't buy into this kind of stuff, but I still experience daily complications/pain from the hernia surgery I had almost two years ago. Plus, the simple fact, that I just don't want to have surgery! Sooo needless to say I get a little to paranoid about these things.
That's my story. Through this all I feel like I have kept a pretty great attitude about it. My friends and I have had quite a few good laughs about it. More importantly, while it has affected some of the things I enjoy doing, it has given me more time to focus on other things I really enjoy doing.
I think this is so crucial when we encounter obstacles in life. Don't focus on what you are having to give up. If you do, it will consume you. Instead focus on what opportunities you will now have more time for. Put your love, your energy, your passion into those things, they will help you get through the tough spots.
Anyways, back to my consultation on Tuesday. So I am sitting there in the waiting room, trying to reassure myself that I really have tried everything, and that surgery is the best decision moving forward. While I am sitting there I am also having a little pity party that was attended by such phrases as, "this sucks," "I am to young for this crap," "not another surgery," "I don't understand I am so healthy," blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc...
Right as I am at the apex of my feeling like a victim, a doctor walks out with a man who had been sitting quietly in the chair next to me 20 minutes earlier. The doctor starts talking to the man's wife saying something about how one piece wouldn't fit inside of another or something like that.
Then I heard a noise.
Then another noise.
There was this beep, then a garbled computer sounding noise.
I looked up and immediately felt shammed by my little pity party. Here was this man, probably in his early 50's who had a trachea box in his throat. He could not talk, he could only communicate by pushing a button that would then make a noise that alerted people to let them know that he understood.
I can talk, I can sing (kind of), I can communicate, I can use my words to express myself. More than that, after my operation, barring an internet horror story occurrence, I should be feeling better within a few weeks. This guy, who knows how long, if ever?
I was reminded of the words my Dad had told me and that I have shared with all of you before: "We never have to look to far to see someone who has it worse than us."
It is true, we never do. I, you, we all, have so much to be grateful for. If we all would spend more time focusing on that instead of the not so wonderful stuff, I am convinced the world would be a happier, healthier place.
I went into my appointment with the doctor with an improved attitude. Surgery is scheduled for this coming Tuesday in the early am. It is the next step for me, more importantly, I believe it is the right step. :)
Spend some time today reminding yourself of all the great things in your life. Take a few moments to focus on all the wonderful opportunities in front of you. :)
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
I appologize for my absence from blogging, I have been spending a lot of time getting my business organized so I can deliver more and better content to you all. I hope everyone has been enjoying Katie's awesome blogs she has been putting up.
Has anyone tried her Cauliflower dish yet?
I had an experience the other day that I really wanted to share with you all as I think it serves as a powerful reminder that we all have so much to be grateful for.
On Tuesday I was at the doctors office having a consultation for an ongoing problem I have been having. I was feeling pretty bummed out. I have been dealing with this issue since September of last year. I have followed all recommendations, tried a variety of different treatments, changed my diet, visualized it healing, willed it away, and yet... it lingers.
This lingering problem leaves me in a fair amount of pain and discomfort throughout the day. Furthermore the medication for it is horrible. I take it and I instantly get a headache and feel like I am going to pass out. The headaches last for several hours and often times reach a migraine level of intensity.
What is worse than the pain is the way it has been affecting my lifestyle. Travel has been very hard as has been doing many of the outdoors and social things I really enjoy doing (hence the reason you all have not been seeing as many pictures from me as usual). I have been avoiding surgery because I have read one to many horror stories on the internet of worst case scenarios that happen during the operation. Usually I don't buy into this kind of stuff, but I still experience daily complications/pain from the hernia surgery I had almost two years ago. Plus, the simple fact, that I just don't want to have surgery! Sooo needless to say I get a little to paranoid about these things.
That's my story. Through this all I feel like I have kept a pretty great attitude about it. My friends and I have had quite a few good laughs about it. More importantly, while it has affected some of the things I enjoy doing, it has given me more time to focus on other things I really enjoy doing.
I think this is so crucial when we encounter obstacles in life. Don't focus on what you are having to give up. If you do, it will consume you. Instead focus on what opportunities you will now have more time for. Put your love, your energy, your passion into those things, they will help you get through the tough spots.
Anyways, back to my consultation on Tuesday. So I am sitting there in the waiting room, trying to reassure myself that I really have tried everything, and that surgery is the best decision moving forward. While I am sitting there I am also having a little pity party that was attended by such phrases as, "this sucks," "I am to young for this crap," "not another surgery," "I don't understand I am so healthy," blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc...
Right as I am at the apex of my feeling like a victim, a doctor walks out with a man who had been sitting quietly in the chair next to me 20 minutes earlier. The doctor starts talking to the man's wife saying something about how one piece wouldn't fit inside of another or something like that.
Then I heard a noise.
Then another noise.
There was this beep, then a garbled computer sounding noise.
I looked up and immediately felt shammed by my little pity party. Here was this man, probably in his early 50's who had a trachea box in his throat. He could not talk, he could only communicate by pushing a button that would then make a noise that alerted people to let them know that he understood.
I can talk, I can sing (kind of), I can communicate, I can use my words to express myself. More than that, after my operation, barring an internet horror story occurrence, I should be feeling better within a few weeks. This guy, who knows how long, if ever?
I was reminded of the words my Dad had told me and that I have shared with all of you before: "We never have to look to far to see someone who has it worse than us."
It is true, we never do. I, you, we all, have so much to be grateful for. If we all would spend more time focusing on that instead of the not so wonderful stuff, I am convinced the world would be a happier, healthier place.
I went into my appointment with the doctor with an improved attitude. Surgery is scheduled for this coming Tuesday in the early am. It is the next step for me, more importantly, I believe it is the right step. :)
Spend some time today reminding yourself of all the great things in your life. Take a few moments to focus on all the wonderful opportunities in front of you. :)
Carpe Diem,
Jesse
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