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Attitude of gratitude aids in recovery
Published August 13, 2009
Over the years, we, regardless of whether we are male or female, old or young or our ancestral origins, acquire a vocabulary.
In my opinion, the number of words each individual acquires is largely influenced by his or her social and educational exposure.
English was first spoken by Germanic tribes in Britain about the fifth century A.D.
In a recent article I read, it stated, “English contains more than three quarters of a million words and is constantly growing.”
Today, it is said, the average person has a vocabulary of 5,000-6,000 words.
Today’s column centers on one word – “hip.”
We, or at least I, feel certain many of you are familiar with the various words using “hip” as a part its makeup. That would include words such as hippodrome, hippopotamus, hippy, hipline, hipster, hip-hop, hiphuggers, Hippocratic, well, you get the idea.
For me, the word hip will forever more be associated with the term “hip replacement.”
At 7:30 a.m. on July 21, I underwent an approximate 3-hour surgical procedure to replace my left hip.
My hip, a victim of years of physical abuse, both athletic (football, wrestling, boxing and gymnastics) and avocational (lots of construction work), and aging and arthritis, was, after proper medical consultation, and increasingly debilitating pain, replaced.
Recovery from the surgery performed by Dr. Matthew Smith, while expected to take four to six weeks, has been greatly facilitated by the genuinely caring staff of nurses, nurse’s assistants and others who saw to my needs during the four days I spent at Marshall Medical Center South.
I have on several occasions found myself being treated at MMCS, and I have always been ministered to in a consistently thoughtful and professional manner.
Influencing my recovery has been not only family, fellow employees and close friends, but also the visits, kindness and thoughtfulness of a number of you who read my column, and/or listen to my early morning program Monday through Friday on WAVU Radio.
Lest I should leave someone out, let me simply express my gratitude to each one of you for the visits, phone calls, prayers, cards, flowers and other items meant to aid in my recovery. They have been deeply appreciated.
According to research funded by the John Templeton Foundation in Philadelphia, Pa., “…a person who experiences gratitude is able to cope more effectively with everyday stress, may show increased resilience in the face of trauma-induced stress and may recover more quickly from illness and benefit from greater physical health.” How true.
I would be remiss if I didn’t express my special gratitude to my faithful wife, Margaret, for her unceasing attentiveness to my recuperative needs.
Again, my gratitude to you all.
George Jones is a staff writer for The Sand Mountain Reporter. His e-mail address is boaz(at)sandmountainreporter.com.
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