After many months, finally, some friends of mine and I met yesterday. We had a wonderful evening, and I learnt a great deal from the experience.
One of my friends had a potentially life threatening illness, and as she spoke to us about the diagnosis of what she went through (she was in the hospital for two weeks and she had to have tests and surgery)what was remarkable about what she went through was her attitude about it.
Usually when someone I know has gone through illness, after the fact, they are still angry or afraid. In my friend I saw neither attitude. I saw gratitude.
She spoke about the situation being a remarkable experience. She embraced her circumstances in a way that suggested to me that she had accepted the diagnosis and put her hands fully into the hands of her doctors,people who were pleasant and supportive. Her job and her boss were completely understanding. Her friends flocked around her, her child and his wife were present. She felt completely loved and supported.
I sat back, listening to my friend, and I was deeply moved.
I wanted to take away some of that attitude and see it replacing some of the feelings in my own life.
My other friend then shared a situation that she had gone through. She had been supportive of her secretary who is pregnant, and as the girl goes off on maternity leave, she received a present of thank you.
My friend is always being helpful and thoughtful, and many times she is shafted for this trait. But recently, she has been receiving undiluted respect and support for her efforts.
This too made me see the possibilities of life.
I thanked them both, as their messages came to me loud and clear.