GRATITUDE

We take so much in life for granted and often forget just how lucky we are. I was reminded of this on two occasions recently - both involving people with disabilities.

The first example took place at work, where the man in front of me in a wheelchair was trying to navigate the old, faulty, "automatic" door at our hospital. On a good day, the door barely opens. For this gentleman, this was more than a nuisance, it was a significant obstacle to simply getting to work. Fortunately, the door eventually opened, and he was able to enter.

When I was flying recently, a blind man took the seat in front of me. He tried to get the attention of his seat mate, saying, "Excuse me," multiple times. His seat mate did not answer because he was wearing his noise cancelling headphones. Finally, I tapped his seat mate on the shoulder to get his attention. During the flight, the blind man had to navigate eating his meal, getting his suitcase down, and disembarking. These are challenges I have never faced, and I was so inspired by how undaunted he was.

These two experiences were a reminder of all the reasons I have to feel grateful. I will try to remember this the next time I am feeling down or upset about life. If these men can overcome these challenges, it gives me hope that I can do the same.