Gratitude

crocus

I took this photo more than a week ago, it is time to give the yard a good raking (husband M's job) but the crocuses looked pretty peeking out. It was around the same time that I went back to my aerobics class at the gym. My wrist was about 99% better so I was able to do most of the routines. It was a good feeling getting back to the class, sometimes it is like a sufferance getting through it but this time I felt nothing but gratitude to be able to attend a step class.  Take nothing for granted, least of all good health.

Grace, Poise and a Sense of Gratitude

neighbourhood greenery

I came upon this  inspiring story of an 81 year old man John Voelpel, who recently earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy.  As a young man, he studied chemical engineering, then law, becoming an environmental lawyer.  Later on in life he moved to Florida.  He was involved in a car accident at 70 years old where he lost his right foot and knee.

 His Ph.D. professor of ten years waxed philosophical on the man's drive,
“Seeing him deal with these fears and the anxiety and this general trauma, including one of amputation, with such grace and poise and a sense of gratitude — that’s pretty awesome.”

'Voelpel ultimately wrote a doctoral dissertation on the ethics of climate change with a moral imperative toward the generations to come.'

His father died at 97,  Voelpel is still taking courses at school and thinks he has a lot of time left as he  wants to do more research and teach.  He still has questions.