Blessing

I've been thinking about RA.  Don't we all?  Pretty much all the time.  As usual, my thoughts turn to what I've lost, what I can't do any more, what I will NEVER be able to do again.  And as usual, I find myself sinking into that pit that is so hard to climb of.So what are the blessings of RA? Now that requires a little more thought.  I think one thing that comes to mind first is that now I walk slowly.Yes, that is such a blessing.  My dog loves the extra time to sniff.  I get a chance to know the birds in my neighborhood up close and personal.  Did you know there were a pair of hawks that wintered right here on my block in them middle of small town Kansas?  I could hear their cries and looked deeply into a pine tree to see the bird.  Wow!  I'm not sure who was more surprised, me or the hawk.  I backed away slowly and then quickly left the area.  I had visions of flashing beak, wings and talons.I walk slowly now.  More people talk to me.  It's not like they have to run to catch up.  People assume that since I'm moving so slowly, I must have all the time in the world.  And you know what?  I do.I walk slowly now. Young people happily hold the door for me.  That used to make me so embarassed!  I'm not THAT old.  But now, I see it for what it is, a chance to let someone else feel good about helping me.  And just maybe, when I smile and thank them, they will help the next person too!  I remember during one on our bad ice storms this past winter, I just had to go to the grocery story.  I eased my car into handicapped parking (thank God for that!) opened my door, and was carefully finding my footing before I stood up.  I finally rose to my feet, when here bounded over a sweet little old man, easily 20 years old than me, 50 pounds lighter and a foot shorter.  He urged me to be careful and gently took my arm.   I would have totally squished him if I'd fallen.  But we both made it and talked along the way.I walk slowly and now I have time.  When I worked, when my 3 children were home, I used to think heaven was having time.  Time to think and not hurry.  Now I have the blessing of that time and hmm, guess what?  It is from RA!