My perspective on gratitude

This story is sponsored by Epilepsy Wellness Advocates and The Charles L. Shor Epilepsy Opportunity Fund
I don’t usually write blog posts from my own perspective, but so much has happened in the past few years and I’m feeling immense gratitude to be able to even be here to celebrate Thanksgiving. So, I wanted to share a little about my perspective on gratitude.

Gratitude for my epilepsy

In October 2021, I was diagnosed with Stage 3C Ovarian Cancer. Since that time I have had multiple surgeries, undergone so much chemotherapy I’ve lost count of how many rounds and my body has been through the wringer. This experience clarified for me how important epilepsy advocacy is to me. And the stark differences in the way we as a society treat people with different diagnoses as well as how we approach acute vs chronic illness.

Were it not for my cancer diagnosis, I cannot be certain I would have begun epilepsy coaching. And now epilepsy coaching has had such a positive impact on so many people thanks to the grant from Epilepsy Wellness Advocates. For this I am grateful.

Share your Opinion

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Gratitude Survey
Would you ever try practicing gratitude to manage stress
as a way to help with your epilepsy?

Definitely2

Probably1

Maybe0

Probably Not0

Definitely Not0

Gratitude for the epilepsy community

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to hundreds of families living with epilepsy at Epilepsy Day at Disneyland in California. This was an opportunity to validate their feelings and experiences, and remind them they are not alone. These conversations reminded me how grateful I am to have seizure control as I could very easily have switched places with any one of the families I spoke to had the fates allowed.

Gratitude for my family

These past few years have been extremely difficult for my family. My husband and daughter have been by my side for every treatment and side effect. As has my in-laws and my sisters. My sisters and I have become closer as a result of also having lost our parents at the beginning of this saga. I can never express how grateful I am to my husband, daughter, sisters, cousins, and my friends. The love and support they have shown is beyond anything I could have expected.

Gratitude for my husband and daughter

It is worth mentioning again. My husband and daughter have essentially supplied the air I breathe. They bring positivity into my life and relieve worry whenever they can. They are the best things that ever happened to me. I am grateful to have them in my life.

Gratitude for me

I have worked hard to focus on the positive despite my circumstances. I believe we have an opportunity to be grateful for this life. It’s not always easy – life and being grateful. But if you give it a second and you start appreciating the little things, eventually you can begin to appreciate you and the space you take up in this world. I will leave you with a quote that is currently my daily reminder:

“We have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.”
― Buddha

Jessica K. Smith Founder and CEO; Executive Director

Jessica Keenan Smith is a patient advocate and epilepsy community leader with more than 15 years of experience. As Founder and CEO of Living Well With Epilepsy and Executive Director of ASENT she bridges the gap between the scientific and patient communities, with a particular focus on the needs of the epilepsies. Jessica Keenan Smith is Founder and CEO of Living Well With Epilepsy, an award winning online resource for people affected by epilepsy to share stories and access in-depth information on the disease. Since 2009, Living Well With Epilepsy (https://livingwellwithepilepsy.com) has been featured in Forbes, Wired, NBC, NPR and the cover story of Epilepsy Advocate Magazine and has partnered with companies such as UCB, Lundbeck, Sunovion, Eisai, and more. Ms. Smith is also the Executive Director of the American Society for Experimental Neurotherapeutics (ASENT) (https://asent.org), an organization that brings together leaders from industry, academia, government and advocacy who are engaged in bringing drugs and devices to market across all neurologic disease states. In this role she is responsible for leading a successful scientific journal and annual scientific conference with speakers from all over the world.

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