Today is Thanksgiving for us in the Unites States. This Thanksgiving, more than any other I can remember, I have been reflecting upon all of the things I have to be grateful for. In the past, I have posted, unrelated to Thanksgiving, my thoughts on positive thinking and health challenges. If one searches these posts on this site, he or she will find my thoughts on positive perspectives. In my darkest moments of sufferring, I turn my mind to all of the things I have not had to endure. In creating this alternate perspective for myself, it makes it easier for me to bare, it makes it easier for me to feel that I am not alone in my struggle, and most importantly, it has given me the strength to fight the fight. I focus on the fact I have the use of my arms, my legs, my eyes, my ears. I focus on all of the ailments or life challenges, I have not had to endure. For many this thinking does not help, but for me, it is tremendous. I also turn my thoughts to what I can do with how life has effected me that is positive in the world. This has helped me bring meaning to my own life-the sharing of my experiences with those I am able to reach-friends, family, patients.
When I have been thinking of these things this past week, it has been a merging of my personal and professional life. For personal reasons, this year has been incredibly intense. The thing that I am most grateful for are the people-of course my family more than anything, but also-all of the people that I have learned from, been touched by, been privelaged to interact with. Whether it is animal or human- to be allowed to share the path of another soul is the ultimate gift.
I have been so touched by so many wonderful beings this year. When one thinks about all of the difficult and painful things going on in the world, it is the soul to soul interaction that makes everything better. There are and have been so many wonderful and amazing people I have been able to interact with over the years of my practice. I learn from every one and am in awe of many. To have the effects of our work ripple accross the globe is the most powerful thing I can imagine. To have been able to share the many moments in the hearts of so many incredible human beings is a gift that is more important than any other.
Like everyone else, I have often questioned my own path, why we have been led to do this work, why I have had to endure the suffering I have in the past. But, when I look back at all that I have been through, I look at the lives I have been able to change and think of all of the lives that are also changed as a consequence of that one person’s life. When I think of that, I realize why I have been given those challenges. Each of us possesses the ability to touch all of the people around us in a profound way. We may not be able to create the impact on the world that we may have wanted to before these challenges, but, what we can do with what we are given may often be even more meaningful.
So, I want to say thank you to the universe and to each of you for all of these precious things, and to offer words of strength to those whom may need them, in their darkest moments, that there is purpose to what feels random, chaotic and purposeless. So take the hand of another human being next to you that you love, and one perhaps you don’t know very well, and try to experience the impact of your own being and the capacity of your own soul to create change in this world.
Happy Thanksgiving
Dr.M
