Health (and humor)

I walked into the exam room, greeted by a spry elder in her 80s.

“How is your health?” I asked.

“It is getting old”, she replied with a smile.

Notice, she wasn’t admitting to being old or to getting old herself.

It was her health that was aging.

A sneaky semantic twist. And off we went into conversating and laughing together. Officially, it was her doctor’s visit.

So, I ask you to consider this morning the same question.

How is your health?

Sit with that question before coming up with any words or answers.

How is your health?

Mental and emotionally, where are you? Physically? Spiritually?

How is your health?

Now, if you feel moved to write about it, draw it out, or share with someone close to you, go for it.

And feel free to channel your inner comedian and take the lead of our elder – sometimes, laughing a bit at life is the best antidote for helping us move forward.

"I can't complain"

I approached a woman sitting on the curb, wanting to offer a bit of food.

She sat next to all of her belongings, one of our many unsheltered relatives in Albuquerque.

As I got closer, I could see that she was meticulously washing a pair of running shoes. They were cleaner than any shoes than I own.

“How are things going,” I asked.

She smiled.

“I really can’t complain,” she answered.

It wasn’t just words. I could tell that she meant what she was saying.

As I walked away, I thought about all of the things I complain about. I got even more specific and thought of the things that very day I had complained about. And even more specific – the things I had complained about in the last hour.

Here, this woman in a life situation where she has every right to complain and yet she choses a very different way to see her day.

All of us can choose our path today, regardless of how good or rough our situation. The path of complaining…or, the path of gratitude.

I am thankful for the reminder.

Excited to hear your reflections as well.