Giving Thanks
Today is the one day a year that we stop to appreciate everything we have — our friends, our family, our health, and our good fortune. But before I do that, I have to tell you a story about my friend Larry.
Last year, Larry invited me to Thanksgiving dinner at his new house. He had recently reunited with a woman named Carol, who he had loved as a young man, but twists in their fate had kept them apart until a few months prior. Both in their early 60s, they were happily making up for the years they didn’t spend together by celebrating holidays with vigor, and surrounding themselves with friends and family whenever they had the chance.
My reasons for not going seem silly to me now: It had become my custom to enjoy Thanksgiving with friends, family, and neighbors right here on my own block — and Larry and Carol lived across town. So I opted to stick close to home.
In July, Larry went into the hospital for some tests. He’d been nauseous, unable to keep his food down for a few days, and experiencing abdominal pain. The doctors suspected his gallbladder.
It turned out that Larry had advanced gallbladder cancer, and it had already spread throughout his liver and his lymph nodes. It was everywhere. Just 12 weeks after his diagnosis, Larry died. He and Carol were married four days before at his bedside. We celebrated their vows at his memorial service.
I’m thankful every day for the time we had as friends. And today especially, I am thankful for the reminder he gave me to appreciate the present moment — and not to take the next moment for granted.
Nothing is guaranteed.
That’s why it’s so important not to take your health for granted — even for a minute. Don’t put off the diet changes you need to make, or the exercise you know you should do. Get rid of everything in your kitchen cupboard that you know for sure isn’t good for you.
Make your physical and mental health your number one priority this year, starting right now: Don’t wait to make it your New Year’s resolution.
Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing
