Reminders...

I spent the last two days being reminded of a fundamental fact - that I take freedom of movement for granted. The simple acts of lifting food to my lips, brushing my fingers through my hair, rolling over in bed, moving about the room, answering a phone, sitting in a chair, talking and being understood with ease, walking and yes, running, are not to be taken lightly. So what if I had a frustrating run on Friday? I ran. I ran for a long time and a long distance. I took deep breaths, and I moved my body through time and space in a way that some can only imagine and never experience. I came home and prepared myself a meal, I moved through my house, I washed my own body. I settled myself on to the couch to rest and I got up to move around afterwards. I typed a post about my frustration. I did all the things that most of us do every single day of our lives and I did it without giving any thought to it. I took all that movement, all that freedom, for granted. I'm ashamed to think about how frustrated I felt over such a minor thing as a difficult run. I'm humbled to think about the struggle that others face each day. I should not need this reminder - my sister fights this battle daily. We live a few hours apart, and I find as the days pass, my daily life fills my mind and I forget. I forget to be thankful for movement, for all the things I take for granted. These last two days have jarred me out of my complacency.

Today, I'm reminded of all the sweetness my life has, I am thankful for freedom of movement, for family, for love and support. I am awed by the challenges that my sister faces, and grateful that she has the care and love that she does. As the days pass, I will strive to keep one corner of my mind free of my daily life, and instead, full of these reminders.