You don't know how good you have it, until it's gone!

The words, "you don't know how good you have it, until it's gone" were spoken to me by a close family member. She has been suffering with not only disability issues but a new way of living because of them. She is determined to overcome her problems, and because of her determination, she is doing just that. Suffering is difficult to endure, it becomes a world of trying to manage symptoms. The lives of people that are suffering is now replaced with a smaller, more difficult way of living. Often overlooked or sometimes forgotten is the person who is watching a loved one suffer. It is impossible for me to even describe how they feel as they watch the hurting. They must live with an overwhelming feeling of helplessness and long for life as they knew it.    

As we age, we face the reality of knowing more people that are dealing with sickness and an expected death. These brave people are now living a new normal life which often includes more doctor or hospital visits. A new routine is established. It is filled with all types of things that they never thought they would be doing. The length of time for this new life is undetermined, it can go on for months and possibly years. The new normal is odd, but it is real, and the older simpler life is a distant memory. 

We all watched the grief and sadness of the Gaudreau family when Johnny and his younger brother Matthew were both killed riding a bike. They were together to attend their sister's wedding the next day. Just seconds before their death, they probably thought how good their lives were. Hanging out together surrounded by family, pregnant wives, cute little kids, great career, it doesn't get any better than that. When tragedy strikes, we can only imagine the pain family and friends must be enduring. Nothing will ever be the same for their family.   

A good friend had an accident during the summer. He filled his recovery with gratuity for surviving it with recoverable injuries. He is a very active man and following the accident he was limited to wearing a back brace and circling his condo with a walker. As I watch him recover, his life as he knew it is coming back. He would be the first to admit, he took his good life and his ability for granted.   

There is a commercial on TV right now that shows a mother and child living in their car. The point of the message is the mother said they had to choose between food and rent. They chose food. At the end is a written message that says: "In Winnipeg there are less than 100 apartments available for under $1000". Another commercial states: "There are only 3 affordable housing units for every 20 people in need". It is the saddest thing to think, you had it good when you could afford both food and rent. 

I am sure everyone reading this post can relate to a time in your life where you just wanted it to be good again, the way it used to be. It is only human to long for a better life. We will often get caught up in thinking what other people have is what we want. I believe you must be careful about what you wish for. It often comes with consequences. It is powerful to overcome an adversity such as injury or disease. To make any changes in your life takes considerable hard work. To walk the heavy path of sickness, death and grief is the best example I know of longing for the way it was. If your life is good right now, take some time to embrace it. We all know we should never take a good life for granted. If your life is one where you need people, that is okay. One day those people may need you. Doing a small thing for someone that needs it, is a big thing to them.