Today is thanksgiving day and also the day I successfully complete my 72nd trip around our sun. At one point during this trip I had some doubts about completing trip number 72. I had a brain attack, aka, a stroke midway through the trip. Which brings me to number one on my list of what I am grateful for.
I am grateful to still be here. There is something about waking up in a hospital bed in the middle of the night and feeling your lungs stop that gets your attention. That got my attention so strongly that I went into a panic attack. I will be forever grateful to the angel of a nurse who sat down on the bed with me, held my hand and assured me that this was quite normal with a stroke and it would pass. I am very grateful for being probably 90% recovered. I am grateful for the training and development work I have done that contributed to my recovery(subject of a future blog).
I am grateful for my wonderful family and particularly for my son and daughter who were so supportive and there for me during the initial stage of my recovery. Rearing children is a life giving experience and it is equally life giving to receive the love of your children.
I am grateful for my father and what he taught me without his knowing he was teaching me. My father grew up during the great depression and had to quit school in the 8th grade. And I will never know how, but he also acquired a disdain for education and made fun of “educated” people. Probably some kind of defense mechanism. I am grateful that I was fortunate enough to see what this cost my father and developed a passion for learning and questioning. Who knows, maybe I would not be writing this blog if not for my Dad’s disdain for education. So thank you Dad.
On this thanksgiving day I celebrate my 72nd birthday by honoring my Dad and I give thanks to my Dad for the gift of being alive and the gift of his love. At age 92 my Dad demonstrated that it is never too late for a father to express his love for his son; for the first time in my life, my Dad said he loved me. I love you too Dad. Thank you for all that you gave.
Happy thanksgiving all! Please enjoy this video on gratitude:
Jimmy Wilson
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