Gratitude is healing

Stuff yourself with gratitude.

I’ve changed my view of Thanksgiving lately. I used to think it was all about pigging out and visiting relatives. Now I’ve been focusing more on what its name intended: giving thanks.

A friend of mine started a page on Facebook, which is a daily gratitude list. I think it’s a great idea, but I need to be reminded from time to time to participate. The 12-step programs talk about writing a gratitude list. My spiritual center talks about giving thanks as if you already have it (or as the 12-steppers say, “fake it until you make it.”)

However you look at it, gratitude has been a healing force in my life, as well as in  many others. For me, thanking God for healing sends my body a powerful message that I believe is manifesting right now. I may not have a scan result to prove it, but I have faith it is happening now. It’s what the body-mind-spirit connection is all about.

I think it’s important to always be thankful for the gifts we receive. A daily gratitude list is a good way to do that. Or it’s something you can do in your head. When you’re angry at the guy who cut you off, it might help to be grateful you didn’t get in an accident. If your kid gets in trouble at school (like mine did yesterday), you could give thanks they have a conscience about it.

There’s always a silver lining to everything – even cancer. I’ve had so many blessings in my life since I was diagnosed with cancer. So many wonderful people have come into my life, and then there’s the book and this blog. I spend more time with my daughter, husband and friends and less time stressing about a job and impressing people. I appreciate things so much more and take more chances. Miracle Survivor Brenda Michaels calls it “finding the gift in cancer.”

I hope you all have a happy – and grateful -Thanksgiving . I’m taking tomorrow off and will be back on Friday.