Thanksgiving
for our family marks the beginning of the holiday season, so I want to begin by
wishing all of you a happy, blessed gathering with friends and loved ones.
May your heart be full and your soul be light!
Now, onto
the tricky part: what am I thankful for? It's not that I cannot come up
with anything; I just cannot narrow it down to fit in one post! As all
the thoughts circle in my head, I keep coming back to one in particular. Without
this one blessing, I would not be able to enjoy my time with family and
friends, be an active part of my son's life, or feel the gratitude of being a
speech pathologist. I have seen so many friends, loved ones, and a few
family members suffer and battle health challenges, but at the ripe old age of
43, I count my blessings for my good health. Sure, I could stand to
lose a few pounds, 10 pounds, 15 pounds, and I don't move as quickly as
I used to in the morning as I head down the stairs to let the dog out, but I'm
healthy. I stay on top of my annual check-ups and encourage friends to
get their mammograms, and then I say a little prayer of gratitude when I get
the all clear phone call.
I'm thankful
for my health and I do what I can to help those who are fighting the good fight
against breast cancer by taking active roles in the Avon Walks in Chicago over
the last four years. I have walked and worked alongside survivors, people
who have lost loved ones to cancer, and women and men like me who just want to
help because we can make a difference. The holidays are a good reminder for me not to take my good fortune for granted and to show my gratitude by giving to those in need. So, as we prepare for the holiday season, I will do what I love, spend quality time with family and friends, and give thanks for each day, each step, and each hour.
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My first year as a walker, I dedicated miles to specific people
and saved this dedication for the finish line. |
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A very rainy end to my second year participating
in the Avon Walk Chicago. |
Thanks for visiting my blog! I am extremely grateful to be part of The Frenzied SLPs and appreciate your support too! I am the 11th blog in the hop. Please write this letter down and venture over to the next posts to continue collecting more letters for your chance to win in the drawings!
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Thank YOU for walking for all the folks with breast cancer!
ReplyDeleteCan't underestimate being in good health. We don't think about it often but boy when we are sick we realize how important it is. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteYou're so right--without good health we could never fully enjoy all the blessings around us. Your walks for cancer are a wonderful gesture of support. And I'm so thankful that you are a member of The Frenzied SLPs. We are so lucky to have you in this group!
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind! Thanks so much, friend!! I'm super proud to be part of this amazing collection of clever, smart, and talented SLPs!
DeleteGood health is an amazing benefit-and one that can be easy to take for granted. Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis post really hits home for me since I just lost a dear friend (age 35) to cancer. It's made me more grateful for all the things God does NOT give us. I'm also thankful to have connected with you, Nanette! Hoping we get to meet one day!
ReplyDeleteMia, I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your young friend. I too am thankful to have connected with a speech celebrity like yourself! You remind me that I still have so much that I can learn and I hope to meet you one day too! I will be star struck for sure when that day arrives!
DeleteExcellent post! Annual mammograms are a must. My sister just finished up her treatment. Actually, halfway through her scan showed it was gone. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary!! I'm so happy to hear about your sister's great news!
DeleteWhat a wonderful post to remind me to be intentional about my health.
ReplyDeleteAll Y’all Need
Thanks, Laura!
DeleteWonderful post and thank you for sharing this personal journey
ReplyDelete