I get to take my kids to daycare. I get to fix them breakfast and dinner everyday. I get to wake up in the middle of the night to feed my 3 month old. I get to go to the grocery store every Sunday. I get to do laundry on the weekends. I get to work and commute in traffic. I get to run and exercise when I can. I get to change dirty diapers.
Did I start my sentences correctly? It sounds strange to me as I read these statements back to myself. What is different? I changed one simple word in each of these tasks that are on my automatic to do list. It is amazing that by changing “have” to “get” how much the meaning of the statement changes.
It really did not dawn on me just how much I was assuming a negative approach to my daily activities until this past week after reading the article, “Feeling Lucky” by Kristen Armstrong (Lance Armstrong’s ex wife) in the May issue of Runner’s World. I suppose I really don’t “have” to do anything other than breathe and eat and drink to fuel my body. Sure that sounds oversimplified, but think about how many activities we elect or get to do every single day that we take for granted.
The article was timely. The article came into my lap just a few days after learning that a close family friend has been diagnosed with Stage 3 lung cancer. A seemingly healthy, and active father, husband, colleague, son, coach and neighbor diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, it typically takes sad news to encourage us to reevaluate ourselves and put things in perspective. On a positive note, this same week I learned that another friends’ 15 month old son has no brain damage after undergoing an MRI that was recommended by doctors to give clarity on their sons slow progress with attaining many infant and toddler milestones. Bracing for bad news, my friend was in shock to learn that her son’s brain is completely normal and that his setbacks are likely only temporary and he is on his way to live a very long, healthy and happy life.
It is not like I needed a reminder just how cruel life can be or just how quickly life can change. I know I am not unlike many of you who have experienced tragedy and has had to remind myself just how lucky I am to have my family, my health, my friends, and my career which all give me the opportunity to do the things I love, like, tolerate or even dislike. There are many people who would love to go to the grocery store and purchase groceries for their family, but can’t because they do not have enough money. There are others who would give anything to be able to jog up a single hill, but can’t because they are paralyzed. There are many people who would love to change their baby’s diaper, but can’t because they lost their baby to a tragedy.
So now that I have depressed you, hopefully I can change your mindset by encouraging you to re-evaluate your daily tasks, take into consideration those less fortunate than you and remind yourself of every single think you “get” to do in a day, week, month, year or lifetime. I bet your list adds up to a lot of “gets” and very few “have” to’s. I hope I can inscribe this new mantra into my daily routine by reminding myself the next time I am feeling tired, overworked, over played, worn out, and unproductive, that I am the luckiest person in the world to “get” to change a diaper, prepare for a presentation, sit in traffic, cook dinner, or do laundry.
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