I have much to be grateful for. At the very, very top of the list in a class all by herself, is my lifetime companion, the love of my life, my best friend and my lover & wife for 34 years – sweet Nalani. She is gracious, she is kind, she is always thinking about my needs, how to make life easier, empathizing with my issues, sacrificing her needs, always providing the emotional support to weather any storm. Always there through every surgery, recovery, doctor visits, managing the endless lists of medical needs & issues. And here she is again facing this new diagnosis of colon cancer and upcoming surgery with me every step of the way. To say I’m grateful feels much too small for the complete commitment she has made to my well being with her generous love for me. I humbly thank you Nalani and will be forever grateful to you.
I am grateful that I’m able to do all the things I can do. I’m thankful I can do most things with one arm. Thankful I can bathe myself, tube feed my self, dress myself, ride a bike, drive a car, be able to speak even if it is a whisper, be able to be breathe easily with a trach without a need for oxygen. I am grateful for the practice of mindfulness and the richness of life from being in the present. I am thankful for the unending flow of joy that arises everyday no matter the situation.
I am most grateful for Mayo Clinic Rochester for 25 years and now Mayo Clinic Phoenix the past 7 years. I am grateful for all the Mayo surgeons, doctors, nurses, and support staff who have diligently helped me arrive at today. Especially Dr. Steven Ressler, my primary care doctor who is always working to give me the best quality of life. It is due to his insight that a colonscopy was ordered that discovered the mass in my colon. Especially Dr. Philip Lyng, my pulmonologist, who patiently does office visits as long as they take to address my lung issues & for calling every day when I was in the hospital. Especially Dr. David Lott and his PA Jamie, my ENT team for successfully giving me a trach after struggling to breathe even with oxygen. And especially Dr. H. Vikram, Infectious Diseases, who saved me from numerous life threatening infections with IV antibiotics. I probably wouldn’t be here today without the efforts of these doctors. Mayo Clinic, founded in 1889, is a world class medical facility started by two Mayo brothers whose simple motto has endured to this day – “the needs of the patient come first”. I am most grateful indeed.
I am grateful for the fresh unprocessed blended food I am able to give myself via g-tube for the last 14 years. I am grateful for the natural nourishment my body receives. I’m thankful for the farmers who plant the seeds, plow the land & harvest the fresh veggies and fruit. Thankful for the delivery people who get the food to market. Thankful for the supermarkets & health food stores who stock the fresh food. And most thankful for Sherry who does all the shopping, blends the fresh recipes, and delivers three wholesome meals for each day to me 3x week. And grateful to Kathleen in Phoenix who does the same thing when we come to Mayo.
I am grateful for friends and family. Especially Seren, my daughter, and Isabelle, my 2 year old grand daughter. I am grateful for Sharon, my first wife, who continues to be most loving & kind after all these years. I’m grateful we had a son, Brendan, for a brief 23 years. I’m grateful for a brother like Frank who struggles with Lyme disease. Thankful for brother Tom who has found his way after many marriages. Grateful for the 40 year friendship of my Philly buddy Leon. Go Eagles! Grateful for all of Nalani’s family who welcomed me with loving arms.
I am grateful to the many spiritual teachers & guides that crossed my path. Especially Jesus, Buddha and the Dalai Lama. And all the others who have helped my transformation from a stubborn, hard ass, and negative attitude type of guy. Now I’m just the same, only with a smile & a hug! Forever grateful to Mindy who uttered six words that changed my life during an intense struggle with anxiety & negativity – “you are perfect in every way”. Forever grateful to Anandra, an enlightened spirit, who coached me weekly for over a year when I first said to her “I want to Be Love”. Thankful for Rupali who did gentle yoga sessions with me & always said encouraging & kind words. Thankful Rupali introduced me to Mindy, Abraham (a very wise spirit connected to Source energy) and Richard Hennessey, who gave a talk on mindfulness at my monthly head & neck cancer support group. Thank you Richard for our new found friendship, Anthony DiMello groups, and fellow cohort in Mindful Hawaii with Jimmy Toyama, the visionary of MH.
I am grateful for the practice of mindfulness and how it embraces any situation and enables the opportunity for being in the present moment. And with that opportunity there is a being with and a release of any story, any emotion, any thought, any sensation. And what remains is one’s true spirit of joy and love for one’s self and everyone else. I am most grateful indeed!
Namaste