I was a healthy child growing up. I would get the flue once in a while, but generally was very healthy. Like most children, I had the measles and chicken pox, but avoided most everything else. My healthiness continued until I turned 52. My health started changing, and I found myself going to the doctor more than just for a yearly check-up.

Gerontologists will tell you there are three distinct changes that humans will go through in their lifetime.

Gerontology is the broad study of aging and the aged, including biological processes, social changes, and psychological well-being.

The first change happens when you transition from puberty to adulthood. The second change occurs in your late 30s to early 40s. This is when women go through menopause, and for men, it’s called andropause. The third time your body changes, occurring in your 60s, is called senescence.

My body got tripped up between the second and third changes. It all started when I was one of the lucky of thousands of Americans to get shingles. The stories you here about it are true. It is, very painful and it seems to last forever. I then had been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, ulcerative colitis, GERD, and chronic gastritis. I have also had many surgeries: two for meniscus repair (in both knees), a left knee replacement, a left shoulder replacement, two surgeries for hernia repair, four kidney stones, my gallbladder removed, left and right carpal tunnel surgeries, and right cubital surgery (moving of the ulnar nerve under the elbow). Lastly, prostate surgery, unfortunately, I know there are more surgeries down the road. Just waiting for a few more tests to find out which type of surgery will do the most good.

Some of these surgeries I had no control over; some of them were caused by my job. Whatever the case maybe, I was once a stranger to hospitals; now I know some of the nurses by name because of how frequently I was cared for by them.

You can take two different attitudes toward your health or any other situations you find yourself in. Which one you choose will determine how well you get through them.

Attitude 1, WOE IS ME: Feeling sorry for yourself and wallowing in self-pity. This attitude makes everyone around you want to stay away from you. Yes, they care; they understand that you’re going through a hard time, but face the reality: they have their own problems to deal with, and they certainly don’t want yours. With this type of attitude, you are trying to use others’ pity to build yourself up. What it really does is push your friends and family away from you.

Attitude 2, IT’S JUST A MINOR SETBACK: This attitude understands that unforeseeable things happen. You are not the first to go through it, nor will you be the last. Your body will actually heal quicker because the chemical makeup in the body works better when you are happy. Your friends and family want to do more for you because they know you are doing all you can to make a quick recovery.

Your attitude matters in every situation and every decision you make. Your attitude will also determine the outcome of those situations and decisions.

Your attitude also matters to God. There are many passages in scripture that show you how your attitude will affect people. God even gave us a list of the attitudes we should try to achieve.

Matthew 5:3-11 (KJV) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Born-again believers need to have the right attitude. Christ shows us how. Jesus endured much pain in His life on earth. Not just mental pain, but He also endured horrible physical pain, and He knew it was coming. He could have avoided it, but went through it anyway.

I tend to put up walls when I hear someone say, “God doesn’t know what kind of pain I feel!” That is so far from the truth. Instead, they should be saying, “God, I know You have gone through more pain than I can imagine; please help me get through mine.”

The difference in the two statements reflects the two types of attitudes. It is so much easier to say, “WOE IS ME,” than “IT’S JUST A MINOR SETBACK.”

I have experienced and exhibited both types of attitudes. What I have learned from those experiences is how quickly you will emerge from troublesome situations.

Life is hard; we don’t need to make it harder.