Life
in a world of illness and anxiety is often marginalized with a snappy quip or
pseudo-motivational cliché. Reminders to never look back and always press ahead
imply life is a linear abstract with nothing but destructive stagnation in the
past. Personal outlooks are measured horizontally or graphed vertically; you
must either rise above or move beyond the maladies of yesterday before they
have the power to catch up and consume your potential for tomorrow. You are
taught to follow the shining examples ahead/above. You lead those trailing,
guide if they are below, the strong must carry the weak. Arm in arm with others
by your side, you move on/up. It is the crowning example of our forefathers, of
our leaders and mentors, of the Lord our Savior.
But
what if there is no specific objective at the end of our chosen path?
On
one insignificant afternoon, I stood in the middle of an empty field. In my
mind, I watched as reminders of my past scattered behind me, along my sides,
and ahead as far as I could see. They shared equal space with tokens of my life
today and the infinite potential of what is still yet to come. I imagined the
same was below my feet and across the sky. The earth held every memory, every
reminder of yesterday. Expectations of tomorrow turned into visions I now see —
both will eventually take their place with the memories of my past. I alone
determine if those reminders become cherished or despised. This sweeping
perspective did not show my opportunities lost or roads not taken, for they
simply no longer exist. My position in that field was a gentle reminder of how
there are no backwards or forwards. Life changed the day I decided to abandon
linear constructs in favor of expanding my environment.
– November 4, 2020
***
The
developing draft of my story will be shared on this secure drive location: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E4cNpkFBU4qf3zYDIqZ5Nw72DzhGe88r?usp=sharing
These are the
thoughts going through my mind as I try to piece it all together…
This is not about what my life will be like when the
fight is over.
I will never stop
I will never quit
This is my story
https://mssociety.donordrive.com/participant/Eleanor
100%
of the royalties earned from my books go to the National MS Society, to support
our fight: http://neverstopneverquit.com/books
Never Stop… Never Quit…®
Kevin
Byrne
Portland,
OR
www.neverstopneverquit.blogspot.com
Never Stop…
Never Quit…
Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.
No comments:
Post a Comment