Bless Others, Bless Yourself

In my three plus year journey to survive and thrive after bypass surgery I have found certain activities to be counter productive to better health. At the top of the list is isolation. I know all about extroverts and introverts, and even extroverts need some solitude, but even introverts need some contact with others. For myself I have found that there have been times when I would allow myself to become almost totally separated from the human race, and that seemed to be the time when I also allowed myself to throw my biggest pity party and begin to feel depressed. My isolation gave me the perfect opportunity to focus on all the negatives in my life, especially when it came to my health. On the other hand, when I have had meaningful interaction with others, especially in the area of service, that contact proved to be quiet therapeutic. I am often asked to visit patients who are about to undergo bypass surgery. Most people are so thankful to get a visit from a survivor, and I leave the room feeling needed and blessed that I could be of some encouragement to another person. You don't have to limit yourself to visiting people who are about to have surgery to gain this benefit. A few days ago I went with several other men from my church to start a tutoring/mentoring program at a local middle school. I was pared with a struggling sixth grader. This little fellow was not doing well in school, but was also facing a cruel world, especially for an eleven year old. His dad had just left the family and his mom was ill with some form of cancer. I could look in his eyes and see that he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. We spent more time talking about how he was coping with life than we did with homework. For that hour all of my energy was focused on another human being and how I could help him. I can remember a time a few months after my surgery when the only person who got my undivided was myself.  I was self absorbed with how my heart disease had changed my life, and how I was almost certain to die a a young age.  It was all about me. Getting beyond that focus contributed greatly to my recovery. Every time that I am reminded that others are fighting their own battles and and need someone to offer genuine encouragement and am given the opportunity to reach out I am lifted up. The bottom line is that often the best way to help yourself is to help another. That sounds pretty simple, and it really is.