The Numbers Keep Rising

Merril’s car number plate is her birthday date.  I can never forget it.  I see it all the time.
For her last birthday she received an unexpected gift.  It was a gratitude jar.  The person who gave it to her did not know that one of the topics highlighted in her studies at the time was gratitude.  It was the right thing at the right time.
I mention it because it is my turn.  It’s funny how the longer I live the numbers only ever go up.
But it has got me thinking about my life.  My philosophy is that no matter how bad something is there is always something good I can highlight and dwell on if I choose to.  I have been conducting a little experiment about that.  As life goes by, and things happen to me both good and bad I have been looking for the good in things.  I actually find it pretty amazing that no matter what happens there has been good.
That does not mean I am glad for all that happens.  I would not wish a tumour or stroke on another.  Yet even in that there is stuff I am thankful for.  It could have been way worse.  In fact, I did not know it but I was not expected to live more than five months after it.  Merril was told to expect me to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.  I have the wheelchair here under the table I am sitting at.  I have never needed it thankfully.
Yet even having that has proved to be a good thing.  We have been able to lend it to folk who needed it, and I had it here for my bro who had a worse stroke than I.  He has since passed away.  His stroke is a bad thing, but a good thing to come from it was how it turned his life around.  He may have gone but I do not morn as someone who has no hope.  I know I will see him again.
I have been thinking about growing up in Townsville and the coming to Brisbane.  I am thankful for my life, my wife, my friends, my employment, my volunteering, my home, my direction.  In fact the more I think about it the more I find to be thankful for.  Bad stuff happens for sure, and I could highlight that and be miserable.  Yet there has been plenty of good and I choose to highlight that.  I am grateful.