Find something to smile about.

I have what I think is sciatica at the moment and it's been going on for some weeks now. I find myself moaning and groaning at times because of the discomfort it gives me. Yes I'm getting older and these things could become more a part of my life and yes I'm a bloke so I like to have a good old moan about it.
I rang a buddy of mine today who's been off work for around 10 months now. I asked the usual 'so how are you/things?' and he answered in his usual jovial way 'I'm wonderful thanks Rob!'.
Wonderful? My friend has been off work because of cancer in his face, how can things be wonderful?  So I arranged to go see him at lunchtime today while he was working on his '55 cadillac. I've seen him before since the surgery so now the big hole in his face isn't as shocking as when I first went to see him, but still, it's a big hole in somebody's face. He's an amazing guy, a husband and a dad to two young children. As we chatted I moaned a bit about my sciatica and he told me about a recent scare. They had done some scans and the doctors were concerned that the cancer was back and it could have quite possibly have appeared in other parts of the body. So after some biopsies and a horrendous wait to find out, they finally came back with the all clear. What had shown up was basically the body repairing itself from the radiotherapy and the surgery. I felt a bit of a fraud when I grimaced as I was climbing back into the van and he said, 'ooh, it looks a bit painful your back' in the least sarcastic tone possible. It could be worse I said as we gave each other a knowing smile.
He had been positive about his treatment and his body's response to the treatment from day one. Always smiling and being cheerful. All being well he's back in work in November and he can start thinking about his future and his family's future.

 

We can all moan about things and let things get us down, but people throughout history have been through terrible things and come out on the other side. Some people have to battle every day with either physical or mental illness. Things can get better, things can be positive.
Be thankful for your family, your friends, your pets, for the good times and the bad. Be thankful to be alive and to share this planet with the people we love. We aren't here long, we may as well smile while we are.