A Week On: Gratitude, Healing, and the Power of Kindness

Last week on the Transforming Midlife Facebook page, I mentioned I was heading into surgery, and that I’d check in on the other side.

Well… here I am 😊 Still standing (just a little more slowly). Still me. Missing a few parts I’d once been so grateful for, but it was time to say goodbye. They served me well, and we’ve parted ways on good terms.

I’m a little stitched. Very bloated. And currently in deep negotiations with my body, who now insists on naps, slow walks, and wearing nothing that even thinks about having a waistband.

Gratitude isn’t just a fluffy buzzword we throw around when life’s going well. It’s something I’ve had to lean into deeply this week, not because everything’s been easy, but because everything’s mattered.

Before walking into theatre, I took a few quiet moments to steady myself.

I used the same tools I often teach: gentle breathwork to calm my nervous system and a simple self-hypnosis technique to centre, focus, and release the fear.

No theatrics, just a few intentional minutes that reminded my body: You’re safe. You’ve got this.

To the surgical team: thank you. You weren’t just ticking boxes and following protocol. You held space. You explained things clearly. You brought your expertise with calm assurance, making a clinical setting feel surprisingly safe. I walked in, laid down, and let go, knowing I was in good hands.

To my amazing friends who continue to 'check in': those “thinking of you” messages and voice notes made me smile when I needed it most. It’s incredible how much power a few words can hold.

To my husband: who stayed with me from morning to night on surgery day and is now learning (with only mild complaint) the sacred art of midlife multitasking. The care continues at home, and I’m so grateful. To my family too, thank you for being there.

Mostly... I’m grateful to my body.

She’s working behind the scenes: repairing, adjusting, recalibrating, step by small step.

She’s sore, yes. Slower, definitely. But she’s doing her job. And I’m learning to thank her for it.

Here’s what I’ve remembered this week:

Gratitude doesn’t deny the hard bits — it notices what’s good within them.

• The amazing nurses checking me every two hours, bringing humour and kindness at 3am.

• That unexpected pocket of peace in the middle of the night.

• The ability to laugh, even if it’s more of a cautious Jimmy Carr chuckle (we’re not testing those stitches just yet!).

So if you’re going through something right now — healing, waiting, wondering, let this be your reminder:

You don’t have to be fine to feel grateful. You just have to notice. The helpers. The breathers. The quiet glimmers of good.

Still here. Still me. A little slower, very bloated, but healing all the same.

💛Karen x

And a little something from me to you:"

Recovery isn’t just about healing the body; it’s about reconnecting with the strength you forgot you had." Karen Dugdale

Transforming Midlife - June 2025