“For what it’s worth: it is never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again. “
~ F Scott Fitzgeral
Sometimes, when things happened, they cannot be unwound. With Rheumatoid Arthritis, once it entered unwelcome into my life, no matter how much and how bad I want it gone, it seems to struggle to leave a footprint in my life and my joints. For once, learning to come to terms with the fact has helped move me forward in life. Gradually, I began to understand that while I can’t change the direction of the wind, I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.
Having the right kind of mindset is one really important lesson that I have learned during my RA journey. To me, having the right kind of mindset is about having faith and not giving up on myself no matter how hard life has been, and not wasting time looking back on what I’ve lost, but move on because for life is not meant to be traveled backwards. A little 11-year old girl shares the same mindset while she tells her touching story of how she fought bravely through her battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer.
Today, it’s my honour to share with all of you the touching story of a written piece titled “Be Optimistic in a Seemingly Dark Gutter“, which features the journey of this little girl with leukemia. As I read her story in tears, I couldn’t help but felt deeply for this girl who is so young, vibrant and so much in love with her life to endure the sufferings, pain, fear and depression brought upon by her disease. Despite these challenges and struggles, she finds the strength and courage within her to brace through the battle, come hell or high water.
This is her message to all cancer patients like herself, which I feel equally applicable to everyone with RA: “Life is awesome! Live strong and be happy. Pursue a happier, more fulfilling and meaningful life and holding on to every strand of faith and hang inthere. Do not think ‘I have cancer, I am going to die’. It is your second chance in life, so live it well. Do not be afraid to love, dream and hope because these three things will get us out of the gutter we were thrown into. Remember, life isn’t about awaiting for the rain to stop but it is about learning how to dance in the rain.”
As an adult, I concur that her strength and courage is both inspiring and motivating. When I was diagnosed with RA, I felt sorry for myself and asking the ‘why me’ questions. But like what I was told, sorry isn’t enough, I actually have to change and empower myself to take action and create changes in life that will improve my health outlook, no matter how small each of the step is.
We cannot expect miracles to happen overnight. Be patient, and little by little, the change we seek will come. No matter how many mistake we make or how slow we progress, we are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying at all. There are plenty of difficult obstacles in your path and don’t allow yourself to become one of them. There’s no secret, no trick and no option. Repeat, repeat and repeat and you’ll get where you want in time.
Here is her story. Let her spirits motivate and encourage you to move on and fight the chronic illness that is gripping your life.
Read on. Be Inspired.
