With the end of 2010 in sight, you can’t help but think about what you accomplished throughout the year, what you didn’t accomplish, and more importantly, moving on to next year. I’m not a resolution person so I’m not exactly talking “resolutions,” but I can’t help but reflect on my year. What are you reflecting on? What did 2010 mean to you?
I’m going to go out on a limb here, but I think it’s safe to say that people with disabilities worry more. They can’t help it. We have all the same things the average Joe has to worry about – bills, relationships, personal fulfillment – plus, we have to stay on top of our medical equipment, order supplies, staff caregivers, and whatever other “etc” your disability brings into your life. This isn’t a ploy for pity, it’s simply a statement of reality. And I think it’s worth discussing.
Letting worry into your life can wreak havoc on everything, including my friends, something you can’t put a price on: Your peace of mind. With the world being as crazy as it is ever was; unstable, unreliable, an insolent economy, you need to take a step back and put things in perspective. You can’t control everything, things will come at you like sand running through a hourglass, especially when you add in the extra disability-related worries. You are not God.
I’m not poo-pooing worrying about important things. We all need to take care of our life and make sure everything that needs to get done, does, but at the end of the day when you find yourself lying in bed and thinking about all the things that you couldn’t get done, things out of your reach, I want you to stop yourself and remind yourself the following:
- Life is full of pleasure. Make sure you enjoy yourself.
- Why waste your energy on things you can’t control?
- Feel gratitude for what you do have.
I spent too many sleepless nights in 2010 worrying about all the things in my life that weren’t going the way I had planned, losing precious sleep, and really, when you think about, wasting my life away. And I think a lot of people are in the same boat. No one is where they want to be. We are all struggling, wishing we had that dream job, that padded savings, that better place.
The amazing thing about having a disability is that it forces you to appreciate the little things. Use what your disability has taught you, enjoy as many moments in 2011 as you can, no matter where you bank account may stand.
Photo courtesy of Neubie
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