Gratitude Practice 2024 April 10: Chopped Onions

Tonight, I'm grateful for chopped onions. I've never really thought much about the act of chopping onions as it seems to be a basic task for preparing lots of different recipes. But tonight, it seemed like something profound. While chopping a silly onion, I was flooded with overwhelming feelings of gratitude. It's been months since I felt well enough to actually cook a meal for my family. And tonight when my kid requested one of her favorite meals I quickly assessed my energy levels and started chopping an onion. Never have I been more grateful to brown some hamburger meat, open some cans of black beans and green chilies, and sprinkle some taco spices. Never have I been more grateful to simply cook a tortilla, fill it with taco meat and cheese and feed my kid a healthy meal that she loves. There is absolutely nothing impressive about this meal and yet tonight it seemed down right spectacular. 

Cancer is such a mental and physical rollercoaster. I'm nearing the end of treatment and I feel more human with each passing day. While we are still far from the finish line we are making big progress. I've reached some big milestones and my body is responding positively to the lasers and poisons prescribed for my healing. I think I can see the finish line and I'm starting to feel it and today I chopped an onion and fed my family dinner. 

Grateful for modern medicine and my team at Huntsman. Grateful to be almost done with this phase and hopeful this is the one and only treatment phase. Grateful for my people who have loved and served and fed us for so many weeks. Grateful for my increasing energy levels and the endless patience of my Burke and Sarah Kate. Grateful to have increasing energy levels and increased stamina. Grateful for the art of chopping onions and taco that Sarah Kate said were “bussin.” Grateful for the new and improved version of me that is slowly emerging…one chopped onion at a time.