Seeing the Good No Matter What... Even in Challenging Times

Life is full of surprises, we all know that. Some things that come our way can seem obviously good and positive, like having a new baby or getting a job promotion. Some things that come our way can seem downright terrifying and negative, like a diagnosis or having a huge argument with a loved one. When you believe or have some kind of Faith, you can trust that something good will come of every seemingly bad problem, situation or circumstance. You just have to look for the good in it.

For more than 15 years, I wanted my husband to work out. He was out of shape for a very long time and I longed to have a marriage where we could be active together and thrive in good health into our old age. So I wanted my husband to go to the gym and to be more active. And the more I told him, the more I pushed him, the more I said to him about it, the more he resisted. He did not want to workout. It created arguments and conflicts whenever I brought it up to him. So, eventually I got tired of pushing him to change his habits and I began to put the focus on me. I made a decision that I wanted to take care of my physical and mental health and to take care of me. I put the focus on me and what I wanted. Plus, I’ve heard that the best sermon is to lead by example, so I secretly envisioned and hoped my husband would eventually follow my lead. Over time, I became passionate about walking and going to the gym. I loved exercising and moving and being active. I love what I do for my mental and physical health. Doing it just a little at a time.

Fast forward. In June of 2018 my husband had a massive heart attack and was fighting for his life. I’ll save that full story for another time, but I was so grateful that he had God by his side and an amazing team of doctors that saved him. They put a stent in one of his arteries and he was alright, but there was going to be a lot of work for him to do in order to get back to optimal health. Onto the road to recovery he went. One of the things that our family doctor said to me over the phone three days after my husband came home from the hospital was, “You know, Dora, the Universe has given your husband a new opportunity in life. A new opportunity to live. He has a rebooted heart, a rebooted life, and it’s up to him to do what it takes to make that happen.” Honestly, I didn’t understand when my husband was in the hospital fighting for his life why this was happening to him. I pleaded, “He’s only 52 years old. Why? Why?” And I kept wondering. But, I trusted God. I trusted that something good was going to come out of it. It had to. I didn’t know what it would be, or how it was going to happen, but I believed. I believed that something good in this health crisis was going to reveal itself. And so I just kept believing in that.

Once my husband was home from the hospital and well enough to really start regaining his strength, I knew I needed to take a hands-off approach to supporting him in making healthy choices - working out and eating a balanced diet. So I didn’t tell him what to do, I didn’t push him. I resisted saying anything about exercising or, what I call “choosing his bites.” Something drastic had shifted in him. Little by little, my husband started taking charge of his own life. He was doing it on his own. I started hearing, “I’m gonna go for a walk,” called from the other room. I started seeing him go to the gym. Over time, being physically active became my husband’s new normal.

Fast forward to now. My husband is full of energy and vibrantly healthy not only when it comes to his physical but also the growth in his spiritual and mental health aswell. He’s passionate about taking care of himself just as I had longed for him to be all those years ago. He loves lifting weights at the gym, hiking, walking, riding his bike, and playing golf. The list goes on and on. My husband truly has a rebooted heart and life. And the doctors have declared his heart completely healed from the damage that the heart attack had caused.

I’m so grateful for my husband and for him doing the work to get to this new state of BEING, but I’m also grateful for the awareness that something good could come out of this incredibly scary health crisis. Were it not for my husband’s heart attack we might still be at odds about prioritizing our physical well-being. His health wouldn’t be where it is today. Being active together has enriched our relationship in ways that I couldn’t have predicted. We love spending time together, having fun, and enjoying outdoor activities. We’re more playful and energetic when we’re with each other. And I can now see our future as a healthy, vibrant couple well into our older years. It’s truly a dream come true. Without the heart attack, there’s a good chance none of this would be my reality today. I am so grateful to God and to the Universe for this brand new life that my husband and I have together.

I hope this story inspires you to look for the good even in the darkest of times. It will always reveal itself. There is always good, no matter what.