7d • Daily Readings
What I Have Learned ...
(September 19th entry from 'Honorary Indian Decolonized' available on Amazon)
As some of you may or may not know, yesterday I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Okay, she diagnosed. I argued. She insisted. I debated. You get the gist? At the end of the day, the reading wasn’t different ... but my attitude was.
I did my research. I found out that one in five Canadians have high blood pressure. (I’m sorry! That’s pathetic!) This explains why it’s no big deal to so many. I don’t have that cross to bear (and funny, yesterday I would have said, I don’t have that luxury). I watched high blood pressure and diabetes
take my Mother from me and my eldest brother. So, as I said to my roomie, “I ain’t ready to say good- bye to my kids.”
With the morning sun today, I am resolved to my new life and excited about the possibilities, and I know that I have learned some things ...
• I know that high blood pressure doesn’t mean a death sentence for me, but it does mean a wakeup call. My health IS a gift, and as I have often stated, a gift not cherished is soon lost.
• I know that my Mother was an amazing, warm, intelligent, loving person who sometimes made bad choices. I have no doubt that if she had taken her diagnosis of high blood pressure as seriously as
she did her diabetes diagnosis, maybe I wouldn’t be writing this note. I will learn from her mistake, as I hope my children learn from mine.
• I know that quitting smoking is minimal to the benefits of a great new body, good lungs, and great health, and I’m excited about the future.
• I know now that my ‘work out’ isn’t something I should take time out to do, it should be a priority. I know now that ten years from now the report that is due won’t matter, but my health will.
• I know now that every cigarette I touched, or every fatty calorie I inflicted on my body equals time my kids will have to do without me, and I’m just not that selfish. The cigarettes are gone and the calories I will save for what my body needs. A treat now and then, sure, that’s life, but more than that ... not what I or my body deserve.
Yesterday I was scared. Today I am strong and determined and so very thankful for THE scare of my life.
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What I Have Learned ...
skool.com/relationship2reconciliation
Sandi Boucher has dedicated her life to Canadian/Indigenous reconciliation but the lessons apply to everyone so welcome!!
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