Struggles and Thank You

I have been thinking about two experiences lately. They are related in my mind, but I will let you decide.

The first happened about six weeks ago. I was invited to a holiday dinner at a fellow person with Parkinson’s and her husband’s house. I consider her one of my PD mentors and have lots of respect for her life journey. They both imparted a saying I never heard before but now I pass on frequently.  It goes like this: if you are sitting around a table full of people and everyone throws what they are struggling with or suffering from into the center of the table so people could choose what to take, you would take yours back. Wow!

Since I retired, I’ve tried not to worry about the future or stress over what’s out of my control. Sometimes, I am successful with this effort. Other times, not so much.  What I learned from this lovely couple is perspective. Yes, you might be struggling but you might choose your challenge over what others are dealing with. 

The second experience is hand-written thank you cards. I have been writing and sending many lately to all those donating to the Michael J Fox Foundation in my honor and to support my Box4Bucks fundraiser. I consider this a disappearing art and courtesy. Most of my friends still do it as well. However, I received one from a college friend for a donation I made in her honor to breast cancer research. I don’t know why but it made me smile and cry. I just really appreciated the gesture. I hung it on my bathroom mirror.

Are these two experiences related? I have friends putting their parents in assisted living facilities, a college friend fighting through breast cancer (and winning), a friend in horrible pain from a cyst in her spinal column. At the table, I take my challenges back.  And I’ll support the others and send them handwritten notes and personal phone calls to show them I care.

Do you still write thank you letters? Please leave comments below.