We all get so caught up in the everyday minutia of life, and thing things that are going on in our lives seem so serious, so all important, that something I think we forget to remember that there are other people out there that have it worse than us, or are suffering more than us. These factors don't make our reality less real, but it does make one stop to think here and there and realize the "unseriousness" of their own problem, that maybe they have perpetuated into something bigger and more serious than it really needs to be.
I had a moment like that this morning. I get so caught up on my weight loss journey, and it is almost all encompassing that I don't often think about others who may be going through something more difficult. Again, it's not that what I am going through doesn't matter because someone else has a more difficult struggle, but it's just important from time to time to stop and take a look at yourself and what you have and find a reason, or two or three or more, to be grateful for the life you have, no matter how unperfect you think it is.
Today I was watching the Today Show and it featured a young couple, both in their 30's who were the proud parents of an 18 month old beautiful baby girl. Their story was heartbreaking as they began to tell of the events that unfolded February 2010. Elisa had started a blog back in 2009 to document the development and life of their new born baby. And in February 2010, her blog becomes a way to talk about and monitor the recent diagnosis her husband Nathan received that he has colo-rectal cancer. He is in stage 3 of his diagnosis and so they begin chemo treatments on him. The next two blogs are about his diagnosis, them dealing with the news and how they are going to keep a positive attitude and get through this. Then, 9 days later, Elisa finds a lump on her breast and is diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, which has already spread to other areas of her body. She actually found the lump a month before, but because she had just given birth and was breast feeding, the doctors recommended she wait a month until she was no longer breast feeding, to get it checked out.
WOW! A young couple, both in their 30's fighting for their lives while raising their 18 month old daughter and working hard to continue to give her a wonderful life.
Both of them got a very grim diagnosis and both got a 40-60% change of living another 5 years. Despite the seriousness of this situation, they are both keeping an extremely upbeat and positive attitude and show so much gratitude for their life and the people around them. GRATITUDE!! It's something so few people engage in, yet here are two people that just basically got a death sentence, but despite that news, they are still fighting, still staying positive, envisioning themselves living a long, healthy life with their daughter and most amazing, they are grateful for their life and everything and everyone they have. Neither one of them is showing anger or anything. What a testament. Anger only makes you more sick. But being positive and being happy and grateful can only help them in their fight to survive.
Elisa's blog is amazing. If you would like to check it out and read more about their story, you can view their blog here: http://familybondingtime.blogspot.com/
They are an amazing family and it makes me realize that my weight loss, although to me it's serious because it's life or death for me, they teach me a wonderful lesson. They teach me that no matter what I am going through in life, no matter how hard it is something and no matter what I face, you MUST ALWAYS maintain a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and you MUST be grateful for you life and everyone and everything you have in it.
My weight loss is important, but I can't let it get to me. I think the best way for me to overcome this and win is to be confident, be positive at all times, stay happy and most of all be grateful for my health. Because even though I have weight to lose and could die one day if I don't lose it, I am not in eminent danger like they are. I am healthy. God gave me a healthy working body and I can't take that for granted, and when you are over weight or abuse your body in any other way, you are taking for granted the gift that God gave you. So many people would give anything for a healthy body, and then someone like me comes along and takes it for granted and abuses it. Not right and not fair.
I am losing weight for me, but now I am losing it fir the Bond family too. Although I have always been a huge believe and follower of having gratitude, I now understand even more how important that is. I will keep them close in thought and prayer, praying for both of them to make a full recovery so that they can be here on this earth to see their beautiful daughter grow to be an adult. Sot that they can see her walk down the isle and so that they can spend time with their grandkids one day!
Elisa and Nathan, I am praying for you both! Stay strong, hang in there and keep being positive and grateful. I believe in miracles and you should too!
One more thing: I don't know Elisa and Nathan at all. I just heard about them today on the Today Show, but the show mentioned that friends created a website in the Bonds name. As you can imagine, medical expenses are out of hand. Insurance doesn't cover everything. If you would like to help them along and make a donation towards their medical expenses, please visit: http://friendsofnathanandelisa.blogspot.com/p/nathan-and-elisas-story.html
Even if you can only donate a little bit, please do because if everyone just gives a little, maybe it will be a lot! I know the gesture will mean a lot to them also.
Please join me in keeping them close in thought and prayer!
“Impossible situations can become possible miracles." Robert H. Schuller
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