Learning to be Thankful & Why I Am - Tuesday 29 September

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Many people tell me they think it's great I'm thankful. My question is, are you thankful? Being thankful isn't easy. It's easier to sing the Woe Is Me song, and go around with your head down wallowing in self-pity, than it is to look at your situation and find the silver lining in it and see that what you're going through is really a blessing and not something to wish would go away and never happen. They say, what doesn't harm you, makes you stronger. I've been told I'm a strong person. Maybe. You don't see my tears. You don't see me when I feel like I'm a total failure and nothing will ever work out. You see what I'm thankful for every day. I'm thankful for the pain. My leg hurts so much I want to scream. I want to curl up in a ball and let the pain take control. I won't though. Not because I'm one tough woman, but because I won't let the pain defeat me. The pain is there to help me. It's to show me I won't always be in this pain, that one day I won't have this pain and I'll move the way I was always meant to move. I'm thankful for therapists who show me the pain is okay. They show me how to fight past the pain so I'm not hurting myself more, but I'm making myself better every day. I'm thankful for the nurses who have helped me in my journey, because this is a journey. I'm moving from intense pain, to pain-free. It will take time. It's not something that happens overnight. If you've had any kind of replacement surgery: knee, hip, shoulder, you know there are steps you go through until you are pain-free. I'm thankful I'm well enough to go home tomorrow. Those who helped me with my care thought I would be here longer. I didn't expect to go home until sometime next week. That was the original prognosis - ten days. When I leave here tomorrow it will be ten days from the day of my surgery through the rehab process. Does this mean I'm a super person because I've gotten this far so quickly? No. It means I helped as much as I could with my healing process and now I'm ready to continue the healing process when I get home tomorrow. I'm thankful for people who are willing to help me once I get home. Unfortunately, my sister is unable to help me. She has COVID. I called her this morning to let her know I'm going home and that's the news she gave me. That's three members of my immediate family who have COVID. My sister-in-law and her daughter also have it. My brother is living in the basement while they heal. I don't know about my brother-in-law. He's one of those who tends to do whatever he wants. Not the brightest person when it comes to this situation. I'm thankful for my friend, whom I called after my sister. She is able to help as necessary, so that's a good thing. Though, I don't want to rely on her too much because she also has concerns. Her sister thinks, at least this morning when I talked to my friend, that her husband might have had a stroke. He's in the hospital, so I don't know what the word is since then. I'm thankful for the friends I have who expressed their availability to help when I was on FB this morning and saw all the wonderful get well messages and they were there if I needed anything. This world is full of awesome people who truly want to help when and where they can. I know even in this virtual world, you have stood behind me and encouraged me with your kind words. I have so much to be thankful for. The tears I shed are tears of joy and humbleness for the wonderful people who surround me. What are you thankful for today? What are you going through that will ultimately make you stronger? Thanks for reading. The image belongs to me.