A day of reflection
Today we remembered 9/11. Brenda picked me up this morning for church, where there was a lovely service, where 9/11 was addressed in a lovely lesson called "What if?", given by the lovely Rev. Carla. And tonight was a memorial service and candlelight walk.
I did the walk in my chair. My candle propped in between my legs, with a little help from my friends. Brenda and Dorothy walked on either side of me, often carrying their candle in one hand and pushing with the other. Though a cloudy night, there was a break in the clouds allowing the full moon to bask us in it's glory.
There are no words to describe the emotions going through me during the walk and ceremony, but one emotion was predominant as we were on our way back to Unity.
Gratitude.
I'm so grateful for the wheelchair, for without it, I wouldn't have been able to participate.
I'm grateful for my family.
I'm grateful for good friends.
I'm grateful for my faith that carries me through.
I'm grateful for finding Unity.
I'm grateful for life.
I look at my life 10 years later, and how much it has changed, and in most ways for the better. I like the person I am am now much better than the one I was then. It's like Carla said this morning, things happen for a reason, even the bad things like 9/11. If I hadn't been through the things I've been through the last few years, metaphorically dropped on my butt and having to pick myself up and find myself, I doubt I'd have have grown as much. I might still be stuck in a naive pattern of negativity, a habit I'm glad to have broken.
People actually like me now. I have friends. I smile and people smile at me. And I cannot tell you how good that feels.
I am blessed and, better yet, I now know it and embrace it.
I did the walk in my chair. My candle propped in between my legs, with a little help from my friends. Brenda and Dorothy walked on either side of me, often carrying their candle in one hand and pushing with the other. Though a cloudy night, there was a break in the clouds allowing the full moon to bask us in it's glory.
There are no words to describe the emotions going through me during the walk and ceremony, but one emotion was predominant as we were on our way back to Unity.
Gratitude.
I'm so grateful for the wheelchair, for without it, I wouldn't have been able to participate.
I'm grateful for my family.
I'm grateful for good friends.
I'm grateful for my faith that carries me through.
I'm grateful for finding Unity.
I'm grateful for life.
I look at my life 10 years later, and how much it has changed, and in most ways for the better. I like the person I am am now much better than the one I was then. It's like Carla said this morning, things happen for a reason, even the bad things like 9/11. If I hadn't been through the things I've been through the last few years, metaphorically dropped on my butt and having to pick myself up and find myself, I doubt I'd have have grown as much. I might still be stuck in a naive pattern of negativity, a habit I'm glad to have broken.
People actually like me now. I have friends. I smile and people smile at me. And I cannot tell you how good that feels.
I am blessed and, better yet, I now know it and embrace it.