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The Gift of Health

 by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH

Yesterday, I voted. I took an Uber directly to my polling place because I wanted to make sure I got it done before heading home to rest. When I got back, I had some baked chicken from the night before, a little yogurt, and a salad. I’ve been trying to eat healthier—trying being the operative word—especially since I gained almost twenty pounds earlier this year while recovering from pneumonia.

It’s interesting how the body responds differently to illness. During pneumonia, I gained weight; during COVID, I lost more than twenty pounds—over 15% of my body weight—in just a few weeks. I was very sick, but I kept going. I credit my dog, Mosie, with keeping me alive. Friends reached out when they could, but it was her loyalty and my background in healthcare that truly kept me moving forward.

I created most of the videos for my course 
28 Days of Gratitude on my lunch break
when I worked at the housing authority. 
If you look closely, you will notice this shirt is on inside out. 

As I recovered, I spent hours reading research about nutrition and immune response. One insight that stood out was how protein supports the body during respiratory illness. Suddenly, the old wisdom of chicken soup made sense—the broth keeps you hydrated, and the chicken provides protein. It reminded me of my childhood, sitting in my robe, dipping grilled cheese into tomato soup while snow covered the golf course outside our house.

When friends asked what they could do, I said, “Send pizza!” It probably sounded odd, but I knew my body needed the carbs and protein. Another friend brought beef stew with ginger, which was delicious and healing. Slowly, I began to recover. Looking back, I often say Mosie saved my life, but so did my training in healthcare and my willingness to listen to my body.

Pneumonia, however, was a different kind of challenge. It left me with lingering inflammation, weight gain, and fatigue. Even light exercise caused discomfort, and I learned that too much movement too soon could trigger internal bleeding. It was frightening, and for a while, I wondered if I’d ever feel like myself again. I even joke that pneumonia is what gave me my gray hair—though at 54, I can’t blame it entirely!

Between these experiences, I learned that recovery isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, too. When I had COVID, I wrote my guided journal, Bragging About You, as a way to stay connected to gratitude during isolation. That journal is an optional companion text to my course, 28 Days of Gratitude, which helps others rebuild hope and self-connection, even in hard times.

As I focus on healing from pneumonia, I’m reminded that the simple gift of waking up healthy is something to be deeply grateful for. Health truly is wealth—and it’s keeping me alive. 

THE GIFT OF HEALTH IS KEEPING ME ALIVE 

The Best Thing That Happened Today

  1. I am grateful I was able to exercise my right to vote, which so many women before me fought for.

10 Things I Am Grateful for Today

  1. I am grateful I wake up relatively healthy every day.

  2. I am grateful for the seasons.

  3. I am grateful for my dog, who loves me unconditionally.

  4. I am grateful for my training in public health.

  5. I am grateful for over two decades of experience working in healthcare.

  6. I am grateful for the wealth of information available online.

  7. I am grateful for my cozy bed.

  8. I am grateful for the financial resources that got me home.

  9. I am grateful for the food I had to eat today.

  10. I am grateful for all the public servants who work tirelessly to keep our country running.

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