The Power of Five
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting is inevitable. With so many goals to achieve and needs to meet, fretting has become the "official emotion of the generation." A few weeks ago, I was having another fretting day. I had so many conflicts to deal with and personal affairs to attend to that I was eating my heart out the whole day I was moving around. I could almost hear the song playing in my head:" Fretty woman walking down the street, fretty woman...lalalala..." That night, after retiring from the day's toil, I remembered the time when I was diagnosed with SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) a.k.a. Lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease. I started re-grieving over the part that SLE took away from me. I began to fret about all the things I used to do so well. I thought about how I used to take the jeepney for an hour's trip to the city just to get to pre-Med school everyday. I remembered how neat and pretty I looked with my white college uniform and how all my male neighbors used to have a big crush on me. I lamented that because of SLE, my college days are over and I'm never going to fulfill my dream of becoming a neurologist...ever! I also recounted those days where I used to bum around with my friends. All those shopping sprees and dating schemes with a pool of suitors not to mention the series of soirees in schools and dormitories and a string of sorority mischiefs. Again, I lay the blame on SLE for cutting my frolicsome moments abruptly. But as I was pouring out my grief, a crazy question popped in my mind: "Rachelle, give me five reasons why you should be happy today." At first, I took the idea for granted thinking it was utterly ridiculous to entertain. Nonetheless, it remained lodged in my brain that a moment after, I felt like I just couldn't give it up. I thought for a moment and then, I started reiterating. "Well," I mumbled, "my first reason to be happy would have to be my life, I think. The fact that I am still breathing the air of life would be a good reason at that. I have knocked on Death's door several times in my life and yet he never took me in. With dengue fever at 9 years old, malaria at 10, dengue fever again at 12, severe UTI at 19 and cardiomegaly at 20, and recently SLE, i think it's a miracle that I'm still alive. Second, I have a beautiful family who loves me so much. When I was at the darkest hours of my life and felt like everybody turned their backs away from me, they were there, enduring every sadness and pain with me. Third, I have great friends who were always there through thick and thin and were willing to sacrifice just for me. Fourth, I have a loving boyfriend who, despite our distance, never ceases to send his cares through the distance and loves me more than life itself. And fifth, I have a God who unwaveringly shows His love and care for me if all else fails." And before I realized it, I felt good again. My lost fervor was revitalized and I felt joy overflowing inside me. I just realized that everything I need to be happy is right before my eyes and I was just overlooking them all along. It dawned to me that joy does not reside "out there" but within each of us in our hearts. It worked so well that I decided to incorporate it in my daily routine. Each day after rolling out of bed, I would grope for five things in my life that I am most grateful about. It soon became a habit that my life gradually changed. Three days after the experience, my brother came up to me and asked,"What's with you? What's making you so happy these days?" I just told him, "It's because of the power of five". My brother furrowed his brows not knowing what I meant. I just smiled. Copyright(c) 2005 Rachelle Arlin Credo. All rights reserved. Please visit http://cebu.freemethodistchurch.org
MORE RESOURCES:
Hatha yoga at Rowley Public LibraryIpswich Chronicle, USA - 10 hours agoThe Rowley Public Library offers a mixed level Hatha yoga class for adults of all fitness levels Wednesdays Sept. 3-Oct. 29, 5:30-6:45 pm, in the Community ... |
Yoga with a kickKOLD-TV, AZ - 16 hours agoBy Jenny Anchondo - email If you're tight and lack overall flexibility, the last thing you should attempt is yoga, right? Wrong. ... |
The conventions: Good for a laughBoston Globe, United States - 9 hours agoI kept my eyes glued to Sara Avant Stover's pieces on the Yoga Journal website, where she has written on subjects like "The DNC's Challenge: Can You Walk ... |
Nikita, not dressed for the occasion?Times of India, India - 6 hours agoYoga guru Yogi Ashwini recently organised a spiritual healing session to promote the practice of yoga. Former Miss India-Universe Nikita Anand rued that she ... |
24 activities in 24 hoursThe Gazette (Montreal), Canada - 6 hours agoI'm not big on exercise routines, but an outdoor yoga session sounded like a work-out I could handle. Many Montreal studios offer summertime outdoor yoga ... |
Chair poses improve yoga techniquesLos Angeles Times, CA - 13 hours agoIf you're new to yoga, here's a way to modify the classic chair pose. Practice half-chair for a while before progressing to the more challenging full chair ... |
Yoga tree poseIndianapolis Star, United States - Aug 25, 2008This traditional "tree" yoga pose has many benefits for regular yoga practitioners, as well as those who want to strengthen their core muscles and improve ... |
New classes offered at Odell WeeksAiken Standard (subscription), SC - 6 hours agoHansen and Evelyn Beck will lead the new Silver Sneakers Yoga Stretch class being offered by Aiken County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department starting ... |
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