Our intentional practices, whether it be yoga, gratitude, meditation, breath work etc is our foundation and anchor that aren't always apparent in day to day life but become critical in how we deal with adversity. For example, the situation I am currently dealing with (a broken ankle and subsequent surgery - upending my life in a moment) has made me angry, sad, frustrated and scared. It would be easy to dwell in these feelings and believe me, they come up quite often again and again. There have been many tears. But even more quickly came feelings of gratitude and seeing the bright side that overtook these other negative feelings. Gratitude for the rest of my health (luckily I did not hit my head, etc), gratitude for modern medicine, profound gratitude for people who have come out to help me, making meals etc. Accepting help is very humbling, especially for a type A person such as myself. Trying to see the bigger picture beyond the current circumstance is also helpful - maybe a lesson in slowing down. Contemplating how this accident will change me and how I go about my life? I have had a lot of time sitting on the couch to contemplate such things.  I have taken a lying down meditation workshop with Jon Kabat-Zinn, watched many hours of TV, including the film Mission Joy: Finding happiness in troubled times featuring conversations between the Dalai Lama and Desmund Tutu. It led me to "the Big Joy project" where you actively participate in bringing joy into your life with daily activities for about a week - both of these I would highly encourage you to check out. 

From a modern medicine perspective, in my other life as a hospital pharmacist, I used to be on a post op orthopedic pain management team (currently I mostly work in critical care). How ironic - I am now on the receiving end of my former specialty. In that practice, I would help adjust patient's pain medications or even prescribe acupuncture, healing touch or aromatherapy while the patient was in the hospital. What I directly observed time and time again is that patients with a positive attitude healed faster, had less pain and had shorter hospital stays. Those who suffered from anxiety, depression, substance abuse, tobacco use etc predictably did worse in recovery. I knew which patients I would be getting called about in the middle of the night. Now is my time to be on the other side & take these principles to heart and believe me - it's easier said than done.  

Two days ago, I celebrated my 41st birthday. Definitely it was not the birthday I had hoped for or imagined. But I started the day with a lovely meditation with my community at the Meditation Center (via zoom). At the end of the day, I was surprised to look back and reflect that I felt positive and almost excited most of the day (I thought I would be feeling down and crabby about the circumstances on my birthday, especially comparing it to last year when we were in Mexico) - despite spending most of the day on the couch (as I do every day lately!). Yesterday was the first day I had the least amount of pain and discomfort. I don't have an answer as to why I felt this way. You often can't MAKE yourself be positive - that is why it is a practice - a practice most important during our "good" times.  

Sorry about the novel but I have much to say here, and if you read all the way through - thank you.  
With that - take everything as a lesson, an opportunity to better yourself. It is much harder when dealing with a hard circumstance or person. But this - THIS is why we practice.  
Until next time... Namaste!
Tiffany