It is difficult to be grateful for good health when sickness has not recently highlighted the transience of the privilege. As such, every time I become sick, I kick myself for not savouring the pleasant sensations that came with health, so recently abundant. So, I’ll take a quiet moment on this peaceful day to reflect upon and celebrate these good sensations, so that they do not go to waste, and that at least for one time, I do not experience them without gratitude.
Firstly, what a privilege it is to have clearness of the nose! that on the inhale and the exhale both, I may indulge in respiration with the smoothness of the morning wind. Happy am I, also to walk with strength in both legs, to maneuver the ankles painlessly, to have dexterity in the joints of the fingers, to have strength for hiking, endurance for supporting the body by the arms, to be flexible, agile, or both, to have serenity in the chest and the bowels, enjoy right placement of the ribs, have a throat lacking in soreness, teeth intact and set in place without aching, eyes that see clearly, ears that hear with nearness often to pleasant sounds, to taste and smell one’s food and to keep it down, to have water, clean and cool or warm, washing down the esophagus with frequency—indeed, to have muscles without knots or cramps, toes that have yet to be squished or badly scrunched, to look forward to a day of liberty without non-chosen obligations, to be granted peaceful dwelling in the yard, a parkside bench or market square (this, in the shade if it is hot, and in the sun if it is cool), to be hateless in the heart, guiltless in the depths of thought, not to have clouds of falsehoods causing fear, not recently to have endured surgery without anesthetic, torture without good cause, humiliation, or agony generally without reprieve—currently, to be located elsewhere than the sewers, the prisons, or long ceremonies not conducive to a wholesome journey with God, to be far away from bad smelling things, odorless toxins, and good-smelling food that isn’t yours to take—otherwise and generally to be in good spirits.
I thank the earth for this day, and all days like it. May endurable situations like these abound in every life for some good time.
