Celebrate the Small Stuff

[gerald]

An excellent thing to keep in mind

I find that this is something I have to constantly remind myself of!!


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Celebrate the Small Stuff
By Michelle Vincent





Meet one of my resident red bellied woodpeckers. I’ve named him Woody. His mate is Winnie. Actually, I call all the male woodpeckers Woody and females Winnie, whatever species they are. Because I’m original when it comes to names.

New interests with COPD

One of the newfound interests I’ve developed since being diagnosed with COPD is bird watching. It’s something I can do inside while looking out the window onto my grove. Or I can sit in the garden and the yard and watch them. I’m always thrilled when a new type of bird comes to visit, and I’m always thrilled when a favorite bird of mine comes to visit, like Woody and Winnie.

The other day I was in my back yard and found that the couple had made their nest in the dead branches of a nearby tree at the corner of the yard. I was so excited! I mean, here was a chance to see babies and follow how the family grows and disperses. And I could photograph them! (Photography is another interest I’ve developed since getting COPD.) Whoo hoo! O delightful day!

I felt like celebrating

But the absolute, unequivocal, very best part was that I could actually walk the 100 or more feet down to the tree. I’d been taking walks to exercise and build up some stamina and it had worked! I felt like celebrating.

So I did.

But it got me to thinking. For healthy people being able to walk through the back yard is probably not remarkable. To them, it’s probably actually commonplace and not worth buying a new book to mark the occasion. It may even seem silly to them.

I don’t care.

My accomplishments might seem small to others but they are huge to me

I am very aware that I can’t do what I used to, I can’t achieve what I used to, and the standards of a society full of healthy people are much higher than I can reach. I’m sick, I know I’m sick, and I know what challenges I have. Walking distances is one of them. So when I’m able to conquer my big back yard it’s a huge accomplishment to me.

And that’s what matters.

And that’s what’s worth celebrating.

So why shouldn’t we pat ourselves on the back for making progress, no matter how small? Why shouldn’t we enjoy the little things, like finding a woodpecker nest? We should.

We need all the great feelings that we can get

And why should we? I’m glad you asked; I’ll tell you. Our illness is not easy. It can be downright horrible. We can sometimes deal with a lot of bad feelings, not only physically but mentally such as depression and anxiety. So when we reach a goal, no matter what it is, it helps us to feel better about ourselves. Accomplishing something is a great feeling. And we need all the great feelings and positive thoughts we can get. Those never hurt and they usually help.

It can be tough to just get through the day

So if you got out of bed today, good for you. If you took a shower, or read a book, or learned something new, good for you. If you went for a walk, good for you. If you went for a swim, or went to pulmonary rehab, or went to the store, good for you. If you’re able to work, good for you. If you were cheerful today, good for you. If you conquered some of your anxiety or felt less depressed, good for you. If you were kind to someone or said something nice, good for you.

And most of all, if you got through the day, good for you.

Celebrate it.

copd.net/living/celebrate-small-stuff/

[lavishgail]

Just Awesome !!!

[jade]

Thanks for this post ! So dignified , realistic and positive.

[jarca]

good post!!!
i needed that

[skate4life]

great post for sure.....but it is sometimes really hard to feel proud of every small step when there is no one to hear about it. Not asking for a pat on the back, just recognition that I have been heard.

[gnott]

Very well said.

I briefly read this a few days ago. Tonight I re-read more carefully.

I think I'll try a longer walk tomorrow. 
(However, should anything untoward happen my lawyers will be in contact. Grin)

[joany]

oops!

[joany]

Aug 8, 2018 12:29:29 GMT -5 skate4life said:

great post for sure.....but it is sometimes really hard to feel proud of every small step when there is no one to hear about it. Not asking for a pat on the back, just recognition that I have been heard.

I hear you (smile.) I'm the reason there's "no one to hear." I've been in this world too long to stop being a very private person. Therefore, I have to cheer for me! I have to pat myself on the back! Usually, it's okay. However, it's hard when I can't find any small steps in my day.

[gnott]

Going to make a wild suggestion.

This has been a traditionally a Young-People/Guy-Thing, but as my daughter pointed out there are a lot more women out there on the "Social Ones", and that is a Massively Multiplayer Online Game (or  MMOG/MMO).

Once almost nothing but shoot-um-ups, they run the gauntlet from amazing intensive space battles to very laid back little farming villages, and involve every type of critter or people, silly bizarre to amazing real simulations, Power Turbo Charged PCs to 4 year old mobile phones, free to commercial ($3-14 /month), fast paced expansive new worlds to low-impact wandering around chatting, ... the choices are practically endless. You actually end up making friends with bots and people and often can't tell nor care the difference. Even if you find nothing that interest you. The very act of sitting down and visiting will keep you busy and sure to provide a lot of laughs.

People are odd anyway - give them a stage where they can put on a mask and role-play and it can be a hoot. Best part - and Better Than Real LIfe is if you do run into a Jerk - [Exit!].

You may decide it is NOT for you, but I can guarantee that in the meantime, just peeking and poking, you will not be bored.

[gnott]

Oh Gerald. I made the walk. Well almost the perimeter, but definitely to the gully and back.

I might have gotten farther, but I packed water and not a proper beverage. Grin

Hope all is having a good day today!

[jade]

Aug 8, 2018 12:29:29 GMT -5 skate4life said:

great post for sure.....but it is sometimes really hard to feel proud of every small step when there is no one to hear about it. Not asking for a pat on the back, just recognition that I have been heard.

When is nobody around I tell my self Jade you are great or Jade , only you could make such a mistakes.

[sonnygirl]

what an lovely post. thank you for the reminder to find joy in small things.