Gratitude

 

Very often, we take the simple pleasures of life for granted. Waking up, placing your feet on the floor as you get out of bed, brushing your teeth, taking a shower, getting ready for the day ahead… and so on.

It is not until we are ill that we realize how valuable the simple things of life are. Lying on the hospital bed and staring at the ceiling for most of the day, while depending on others for basic care to get well, can be torturous for the mind if not scary. But it is also something you can be grateful for.

It is about eighteen months since I was discharged from hospital, having recovered from a severe COVID-19 attack. Since that time, I have learned to be grateful for every little aspect of life, no matter how minute or challenging, on a daily basis.

During this past week, there are three people who have passed away that I have known fairly well over the years. Their passing has sharply reminded me about being mindfully grateful for the gift of life.

John Etyang (RIP) was a fellow Alumni member of my alma mater – Uganda Martyrs University (www.umu.ac.ug). He was a pioneer student and a very active member of the Alumni association. During our university days, we shared many evenings on the basketball court. I shall always remember his valuable contributions during heated debates on various issues.

Sr Letta Mosue (RIP) was a Catholic Nun,  Clinical Psychologist and a Traditional Health Practitioner. She belonged to the Catholic Diocese of Rustenburg in South Africa. After the passing of my Mum, she assisted my family and I to cope with the trauma that we experienced following the loss and harsh bout of illness.

Joseph Kanaaba (RIP) was a young energetic and enterprising gentleman with whom we shared the passion of reaching out to the Youth, through the Youth Alive umbrella – back in the day. In fact he was at one time the Executive Director of Youth Alive, among the many roles he has fulfilled in his work career. In 2018, when he visited South Africa with his family, we spent a day together, and it was so wonderful to catch up, now that we both had young families. And we have kept regularly in touch.

I am grateful that I met all the three at some point in my life. But I am also saddened by their passing, so soon.

I am grateful for the many lives that John, Sr Letta and Joseph have touched while they were still alive. They will be dearly missed.

I am also grateful once again for the gift of life, and for the simple pleasures of life, that remind me that I am healthy and well; and also the challenges that I encounter every now and then.

With all that is happening around us in the world today, the seemingly-never-ending demands, the economic pressures, the work deadlines, etc… our focus seems to be about the next thing that has to be done, or that is yet to happen, or should nearly happen.

With all the technological connectedness that swallows our attention, it is easy for moments to slip by unnoticed with things that one could have had the opportunity to be grateful for.

One of the key lessons I have learned from Coaching is that, the practice of being grateful regularly is powerful in helping us to remain purposeful  and mindful in life.

Being grateful also means appreciative of both the good things and the bad things that we may encounter during our lives.

In fact Gelong Thubten – a Tibetan Monk says, “Challenges of life are like a deeper stretch for awareness, compassion, forgiveness and gratitude. In this way, you develop gratitude for everything.”

Question is: What are you grateful for in your life right now!?