ICE Syndrome - Attitude and Gratitude

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the start of this blog.   In that one year, I went from not knowing one person with ICE to now having communicated with eleven fellow ICErs and several blog friends.   You readers lift me up!   We are all in different stages and all of us struggle at times – but we are all in this together.    There is a lot I want to do to make this site more beneficial.   In some cases I need to learn some new technology or do more research and, as always, I need to find the time.   If there is something that you think would be helpful, please let me know.   Thank you everyone!    And now to my post......

I subscribe to a "Daily Thought" that is delivered to my email each day  - and several weeks ago this one showed up in my inbox....

Source

Not many “quotes of the day” grab my attention, but this one did.    If you have read some of my previous posts, you can often catch an underlying theme .... we can choose our responses to our situations.... and when we choose a positive response to a not-so-good situation....things change.    A positive attitude does make a difference.  I have to remind myself of this often.

So when it comes to the quote above, I do agree with the basic premise, except it's missing something.  For me, happiness depends on more than just my "quality thoughts".   I also need my faith, my family and my friends.   Mix in quality thoughts and a positive outlook and I will have a happier life.     

So what in the world does this have to do with ICE?    Well, sometime over the past 12 months, something changed - I chose to think of this disease differently.    I wouldn't be able to change the fact that I had this disease, that I had been through so much already and that there was much more to come.   But I could choose to think - and believe - and know - that somehow this rare ICE disease is a blessing in disguise.   Hard to believe, but I'm grateful!   I still have days where I struggle - I'm human!  But by stopping and readjusting the attitude, I realize ICE has been, and is, a blessing that reveals itself in many ways - through my faith, family and friends (including you fellow ICErs).  I'll share some examples in the future.

ICE changed my life....in more ways than just the physical damage.     It changed my attitude.   It gave me gratitude. 

I challenge you to think of how your attitude can lead to gratitude!