Family matters. Whether it's immediate or extended, family is important. I'm grateful for a family that supported me through the tough times, grandparents that always welcome me into their home, and a cousin who welcomed me into the family and home for a year. I know that I can count on my family for anything and they're always just a phone call away. I am lucky and blessed to have a close extended family, they are some of my closest friends. I miss them when I'm gone, but I know that no matter how long it's been I am always going home to people who love me.
Life is precious. I learned at a pretty young age that life on this earth was fragile. People aren't going to be here forever, loved ones can be taken away unexpectedly. You never know when the last time you see or talk to someone will be. I've learned about a different aspect in which life is precious. Working in home health care has taught me many lessons about life and the quality in which we live it. Some clients were old and nearing the end of their lives, but some were young with so much life ahead. Whether it be age, sickness, or injury that handicapped them, it was always attitude that made the difference in quality of life. Looking at them, you would probably feel sorry for them at first. I think it's a natural reaction for a lot of us who haven't dealt with it. I feel ashamed for feeling that way now, being in a wheelchair or blindness or diseases don't make you any less of a person. I don't think I've ever met happier people than the patients at the rehab center. They were so positive about recovery and didn't let this traumatic event hold them back. Life is what you make of it, life is to be lived!
Humility. Going along with quality of life, I worked with and around people who were way worse off than me physically. I was surrounded by people with crippling diseases or injuries that had left them wheelchair bound. These were people that had everything going for them- a pilot, top division soccer player, senior in high school. They have to work so hard every day to just do the little things that we take for granted. Standing, showering, going to the bathroom, cooking, feeding yourself, walking, driving, writing, getting yourself out of bed, combing your hair, brushing your teeth, etc.. Everything takes so much longer and so much more effort. Most had been doing these things themselves their whole lives and had to have a big slice of humble pie to let people help them. It was so exciting to watch someone take a step for the first time on their own or throw a ball, even just moving a finger or a limb was a huge accomplishment. Watching and helping them go through life was an incredible experience for me. I'm very grateful for a healthy body that does what I need it to do.
We live in a beautiful world. I loved living in Heber. Beauty in nature is so easy to find. I drove through Parley's canyon almost every day for work and loved it. I may not love the temperature changes of the seasons, but I do love the change in scenery. Whenever you get a chance, just "stop and smell the roses" look at the wonderful creations around us. I'm glad I live in a place where there are mountains and that beauty abounds.
God has his own plan for us, and it's much better than what we could have planned for ourselves. When we're going through trials it can be so hard to see the big picture. We have what we want in mind and when that doesn't happen we get mad or discouraged. Prayer is real, it works, but we have to be open to His will. Just put your life in the Lord's hands and try your best, everything will work out in the end.
Looking back on my life now, I can see the bigger picture. Every trial and decision in my life has led me to where I am today and has shaped me into the person I am. I can see why these things happened and why my plan didn't work out. He is in every detail of our lives and wants nothing but the best for us. All we need is a little bit of faith to follow His plan :)
