Is an attitude of gratitude the secret to health?

Perhaps.

Here's a personal story from me to hopefully convey this point, as well as discuss my motivation.

Pull up a seat and grab a biscuit..

I hope you enjoy it!

I remember when I couldn't walk.

Due to having both of my knees reconstructed and having blown them out, I'd gone from being a British weightlifting champion to being wheelchair-bound.

Trusting my friends, they moved heaven and earth to get me to another hospital where I'd be cared for.

Breaking free from the one I was in, the nurse looked the other way as we escaped.

Simon drove my bright yellow Saxo

We played my Bon Jovi CD, living on a prayer

It was great.

You see..

One of the coaches at the club was a surgeon elsewhere, and he agreed to help.

My right knee was worse, so he tackled that.

His colleague did the left.

Until then, I waited in ward G3.

Many a night..

I'd go nill by mouth

Only for a motorbike accident/car crash victim to come in.

"Not tonight, Michael"

"Maybe tomorrow?" I'd say.

I had the op 13 days later. Providing the deepest inner experience of my life.

Without painkillers, I waited, breathing deeply, unable to sleep, hopeful things would improve, for the rest of my life to begin.

Unable to bear it longer, I broke free.

Leaning forward on my crutches, I "walked" by keeping my legs straight and swinging them around, using my arms as much as possible.

But I slipped, 25m down the hallway

The reality and my aspirations worlds apart

It broke my heart as I bent both knees, muscles no longer attached, and nothing saved me, my head crashing on the hospital floor as I blacked out from shock.

I've called myself Mike ever since.

I almost gave up then, but 10 years later, I managed to make sense of the lessons.

1. If someone keeps asking, "Do you want paracetamol?" they might be asking if you'd like painkillers.

2. When you make a strong decision to do something or not, in my case, it will change your life forever.

Why?

My decision to break free came after a decision not to end my own life, realising "my mum wouldn't like that"

17 years later, I still use those around me to guide me on the right path.

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5 weeks and 6 days later, I was back working as a doorman at a small bar in Manchester.

Money was tight.

The bar was open until 4 am, 7 nights a week.

Let's say it was a bit fast-paced.

My knees bandaged, the left knee surgeon turned up on my first night w/ his gf.

His eyes widened, he couldn't believe it, reaching for my leg as I stepped back to avoid his grasp.

Asking him to keep a secret, I grabbed his hand to shake it firmly.

"Welcome"

Dave, the manager, finished his cig next to me.

"Dave, can you make sure this man doesn't pay for a drink while in this bar please?"

Dave didn't blink an eyelid.

"Sure"

They walked in, and I looked up at the night sky and felt at peace, crying slightly before coughing.

What a privilege it was to be able to look after people again.

Always look after those who look after you.

www.mikehowarthcoaching.com