It’s my six-month kidneyversary and today I’m grateful for food.
On April 11, 2017, my little sister gave me a second chance at life when she donated one of her kidneys to me. So on the eleventh of each month, I remember to be grateful for everything I have. Today I’m especially grateful for food.
This past weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada. It’s similar to the American holiday, without all the trappings of colonialism.
We Canadians did, however, borrow the traditional American meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.
I’m not a big fan of pumpkin pie, but I do love me some mashed potatoes and gravy.
Last year, I couldn’t eat any. I had stage-four kidney disease and my kidneys could no longer remove toxins from my body. I was overdosing on nutrients that are usually good for you, and had to avoid foods with potassium.
The list of restricted foods was a who’s who of foods that are supposed to be good for you, including avocados, whole grains, legumes and spinach. And it turned out that potato, in all its glorious forms — friend, baked and mashed — was about the worst thing I could have.
So when I gorged on mashed potatoes and gravy this Thanksgiving, I was especially grateful for this healthy new kidney that gets the toxins out of my blood.
GET INSTANT ACCESS
to free Gratitude Mad Libs
Gratitude improves health, self-confidence, relationship and sleep. But sometimes we all need a little help!
Food is something worth being grateful for.
My friend Miranda says she tried writing a gratitude journal but found she was mostly grateful for food. One day, the only item on her list was shawarma.
The World Health Organization reported last month that after declining for over a decade, hunger is on the rise again, driven by war and climate change. More than 10 per cent of the world’s population — a whopping 815-million people — are malnourished or starving. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly the population of the entire European Union plus the United States.
So today I’m grateful for food.
I’m grateful that I was born in a country of privilege, where I’ve never had to feel hungry.
I’m grateful that I can choose fresh healthy, foods.
And I’m grateful that once in a while, I can choose mashed potatoes and gravy.
What about you? What are you grateful for today?
Hahahahaha thanks for the shout-out re: my gratitude journal. I’m so glad you can eat and enjoy food again!
Food is yummy. Shawarma especially so. 🙂
All those mentioned and we are grateful for you and your health. Jim and Kathy
Thank you!
Yes Keith I am grateful for the diversity pf food I can afford on my table. In the past I had periods when for couple of weeks in a raw I could afford only 5 slices of bread and butter and nothing more, till the next pay slip. Thankfully our bodies are intelligent enough to store some fat and energies for the next day. I remind myself of those times and I’m grateful that there are people like you apreciating the gift of food motjer nature provides for us. Thank you for sharing.
Syliva, that must have been very stressful. Thank YOU for sharing.
Today I’m grateful for this post! Thank you for the lovely reminder that the everyday things taken for granted are often the most impactful, and nourishing to both our body and soul. Shawarma included! I started tearing up in reading that your sister donated a kidney to you, something which has inspired you to consider, each day, what you are grateful for. I can’t imagine how challenging the past year must have been and am glad to hear you have renewed life and fervour. It’s an inspiring story that you’re sharing. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read and derive valuable lessons from it.
Jackie.
Love this, I am always grateful for food as well. But today I add nature to the list. Love the changing colours of leaves – so beautiful to see!