Quote of the Day

“I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’” — Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., “Knowing What’s Nice“, In These Times (2003-11-06)

Quote of the Day

“Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful.” — John Wooden, They Call Me Coach

How I Found Gratefulness From My Bronchitis

Sometimes I wonder about how my mind wanders;  sometimes I wonder at how my mind wanders.

Yesterday, my doctor tells me that I have bronchitis and it comes from my 35 years of smoking.

Today, I tell a friend about the doctor’s diagnosis:
Friend: “You should quit”
Me: “I’ve tried, It’s difficult. Some say it is harder than quitting heroin.”
….

After this conversation, I think of my friends that have quit both, and a few have confirmed it. I also know a few who have quit heroin but can’t quit smoking.

I then realize that I know more ex-addicts (and not the white-collar opiate pill popper types) than most of the people I work with.

My next thought is another realization: I made it out – It wasn’t a ghetto; I’m not a millionaire (yet); but I have gone further than the peers I grew up with.

I appreciated the path that I have traveled and felt grateful for the opportunities I have.

Today’s problems look so much smaller now. 🙂