That "gratitude" thing happened again.

[Why Syzygy]

Since moving here almost four years ago, I have suffered with regional allergies once or twice a year. The fall is the worst. Last year I had heavy duty bronchitis for almost three months brought on by the allergens plus added stresses of oral surgery and a minor car accident.

This fall I haven't been sick at all. I noticed it when someone I know was suffering a lot with "cedar fever" (they call it). Last night someone else asked me if I had been sick. "No. Not at all". Driving home from his house I felt really grateful, and a little curious, that I had not been sick.

So, I came down with a sore throat, running nose bit later last night. I'm dosing up on chewable C and GSE, taking it easy instead of the stressful event I had planned for today. I don't know what my point is, other than when I hear people "claim" (the way I hear it) that "Gratitude" is some kind of insurance policy to hold onto good fortune, they are not telling the truth. One exception breaks the rule. And, it happens to me all the time. I'm still grateful I wasn't sick before. Gratitude is not a magic bullet though. Sorry.

[Cleita]

1. My DH and I used to spend winters in the Texas Hill Country.

I got the cedar fever, complicated by asthma, almost immediately. Finally a specialist in San Antonio plainly told me I shouldn't live in Texas if I didn't have to or I would have to take some heavy duty allergy and asthma medication to keep from getting bronchitis or even pneumonia. This was after two winters there. I think it's miraculous that you appear to be conquering the evil juniper pollen curse and a lot to be grateful for. However, I agree with you it's not a magic bullet nor a reason for undying gratitude.

[Why Syzygy]

2. When we moved

to Vegas in '94, I was sick over and over for a year. I'm a poker player. People from all over the world come there and bring new germs and spread them via the chips, especially. Eventually, my immunity did build up and I could stay well. I had nose bleeds for awhile out there too.

Largely due to that experience, I'm of the opinion that our immunity does have to adjust to new living geographies, and illness is one method it uses.

I wonder how we react to our local birth places. Would that make a difference? I was born in northwest/central - NOT DFW - Texas. West of there. I guess that's in the area of the plains. Austin has at least three, and maybe four, distinct vegetation regions all meeting up right here. The coast lands, hill country, piney woods, and north of here, which is flat. This is what I've been told as reason for the awful allergy problems.

I'm a bit amazed that you all wintered here! Were you ever in any ice storms? Who was governor then?
The weather changes don't help, and may be what triggered this as it was about 80 yesterday after being in the 20's a day before, and today back to the 40's -ish. My body had adapted to the cold and then we had a heat snap. My body said, "whoa".

[Cleita]

4. We did encounter some bad weather, freezing weather and near

tornados (my big concern). A lot of snowbirds winter in Texas but they go to your valley, mostly around McAllen. We get the same extremes of weather in California too, like it's 60 out there right now and last week it was in the 80s so I guess that didn't bother me as much. I'm used to layering my clothing in expectations of yo yoing temperatures. Ann Richards was governor then and I discovered Molly Ivins there, whom I loved and miss very much today. I think Ann got cheated by GWB to become Governor of Texas just like he got the White House. He really needs to be investigated, him and Karl Rove, and tried for whatever crimes are found out because we have a right to know just how crooked our politicians are. Funny, how the Democratic and corrupt Governor of Illinois is being brought to justice but none of the Republicans.

[rosesaylavee]

3. My son developed a severe bronchial allergy to our dog

while living away at school. When it was suggested that he would need to take prednisone when he visited us, decided I needed to figure out an alternative path. Discovered Allerphase on the internet and have found it to work very very well. He doesn't have to use inhalers or any other medication while at home (knock on wood). (http://puretango.com/allerphase.html0

Before we used it the first time, googled it and then did search within a search with the word scam. Didn't find any complaints at that time but just the opposite - lots of people amazed that it worked.

Disclaimer - I am not a doctor... just an interested alternative medicine person. AND, I am not getting a kick back from the company. Just sharing what I know to work for us. :P

[BlueIris]

5. I agree that gratitude is no panacea, but I think it's very important.

Opens up the heart chakra; let's more healing in.

[I Have A Dream]

6. Sometimes I feel "gratitude" right before something happens.

In reality, it really is a realization of something for me. It's almost as though my higher self is making me aware of how long something hasn't happened so that when it does happen, I can keep it in perspective. For example, I remember once that it popped into my mind that it had been a really long time since I'd been in an accident, and I felt really grateful for about it. Within 24 hours, I had a car accident. I saw it as my higher self telling me that I had been very fortunate for so long so that when it happened I was able to still be grateful for all of that time that I went without having been in an accident. It really did work that way for me.

This has happened to me several times.

In reference to gratitude in general, I think that it does help to keep our lives positive when it is practiced on a regular basis. Additionally, gratitude can also help what we view to be negative things in our lives to end. (Ooooh, I just got something for dist22dem in the prayer thread!) By feeling gratitude for what we consider "negative", we are able to end them completely. It's a really good way to make room for the new. (At least that's my belief.)

Sorry that you're not feeling well,vsm. :hug:

[Why Syzygy]

7. It FEELS good

is reason enough.

I think I've just had a strong reaction to the Secret teachings regarding "gratitude". It's also very possible I've exposed myself to more of the gratitude teachings than some. That's what I'm really speaking up about. No one hear gives that opinion. That I know of. Other than, it's possible, if anyone takes things as literally as do I, that someone is blaming themselves for failing to materialize all the good stuff they want. And perhaps trying to use gratitude as a magic spell. If it worked, wouldn't that be grand.

It does feel nice and I plan to keep it.

I feel REALLY miserable tonight. If you were here, you could hear me whine :evilgrin:

[I Have A Dream]

8. If I were there, I'd listen to you without complaint.

We all need to be able to whine freely sometimes. If you can't do it when you're sick, when can you? :hug:

[JanusAscending]

9. You forgot to "knock on wood"!!!

I'm also a firm believer in "Murphy's Law"!!:rofl: I'm sorry, I couldn't resist!! Feel better, and continue to count your blessings. No matter what.

[FirstLight]

10. So, are you thinking that gratitude doesn't work?

I don't see it as an insurance policy at all - what it does do is take the sting out of the stuff that constantly is bound to happen in life. I think of it like that song "always look on the bright side of life"
but, it isn't an easy thing to find your gratitude when feeling cruddy or losing our job or something worse. Most of us, especially in the Western world, have it SO much better than SO many, a little gratitude goes a long way.

I try to hold on to my good days of abundance and gratitude when the shit hits the fan, and sometimes it fades from view for a while while I wallow - but it always returns. I call that grace...



Sorry you have a touch of the cold-flu season crud..I have a cough and the litle princess has been sniffling and snezing all day... sending love & light that it remains mild so you can have something to be grateful for! lol:P