This week on the Open Book Blog Hop we’re talking about gratitude and what we’re grateful for.
Well, I can answer that one right away! After having had three major operations on my neck for advanced stage 4 thyroid cancer (a total of 16 hours of surgery) and two lesser ones on my eyes to correct the after-effects of radiation treatment (2 hours of surgery), I am grateful for my life! All other things pale into insignificance, even the croaky voice that I’m left with. When you’ve suffered a major life-threatening illness like I have, then each new day is a bonus, and you appreciate the extra time you have been given.
At the moment I seem to be in remission again, and have had no treatment since December 2014. I take each day as it comes, and don’t think too closely about what lies in the future. The disease may return or it may not. Hey, we all have to die of something; nobody gets out of this life alive! All I can say is that at the moment I’m retired, feel quite well, am enjoying life, and I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do – write! There’s a silver lining in every cloud. If I hadn’t had this disease I’d still be working as a medical secretary, so it’s given me the freedom to be able to write all day, albeit not as I would have originally planned it.
On a lesser note, I’m also grateful for the chance to have had two healthy sons, who have given me four lovely grandchildren. I’m grateful for 35 years of marriage, which has taught me many things, not only about my husband, but also about myself. I am grateful for having lived 57 years, which has helped me gain some insight into what makes people behave the way they do. The subject of psychology fascinates me, and strangely enough I am also grateful at the chance to have worked for 13 years in a hospital. I absorbed much knowledge whilst typing clinic letters that most of the public are not privy to, and every day I put this knowledge into practise in my retirement to help me live a healthier life.
So you see I am grateful for many things, big and small. What is Kelly Williams grateful for? You can find out by clicking here http://authorkwilliams.com/ and you can check out her books by clicking here http://www.amazon.com/K.-Williams/e/B002YFZ018/ If you would like to add your blog to this hop, please click on the link below and follow the instructions given.
aurorawatcherak said:
I did not know this about you. Now I know how to pray. Looking back, I have never had a truly rough time (and I’ve had some hard ones) that did not somehow accrue a benefit to me … eventually. You seem to be of the same mind.
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Stevie Turner said:
Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, so they say!
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aurorawatcherak said:
The body builders say you have to break muscle down in order to build it. Same idea! What doesn’t kill us makes us grateful as an attitude and not just an emotion.
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Traci Wooden-Carlisle said:
It’s even more of an honor to know more about you. The freedom of living life to its fullest should never be squandered. Thank you for the inspirational post.
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Stevie Turner said:
Thanks Traci.
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Stephany said:
Stevie, I’m glad you’re doing well. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
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P.J. MacLayne said:
I’m glad your winning the fight. My mother is officially a survivor of breast cancer, so it can be beat!
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PJ Fiala said:
Oh Stevie, I’m very happy you are healthy. Things like cancer are so darn scary and I’m happy you have a strong family for support and your writing for sanity!!!!
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Stevie Turner said:
I’m okay thanks Patti, and enjoying writing my novels.
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