Part Nine: Defined
by History
History is the central factor
in determining one’s capacity for wellness. From a biological-chemical
standpoint to the mental-emotional experiences encountered since birth, the
complex timeline of one person’s development governs future responses to
external factors in every instance of life. Intentional, subconscious, or
involuntary actions taken by one’s body (responses) determine its condition
when faced with every succeeding moment. Physical actions produce physical
reactions (responses). Mental and emotional actions also produce physical
responses. We can categorize physical responses a body may experience as:
- intentional,
conscious actions.
- subconscious,
unintentional, or unrealized actions (habits, tics, etc.).
- stress,
strains, outbreaks, shutdowns, and other involuntary physical reactions.
The mental health industry
applies needed attention to the mind in order to protect and preserve the body.
Attention to the mind, heart, and soul aims to safeguard and care for the host
body.
Wellness measures an
individual’s capacity to monitor, and ultimately regulate in a positive fashion,
their responses in each dimension of existence.
Kevin has multiple sclerosis.
We will leave the medical discussions of onset, diagnosis, progression, and
treatment of the disease to another forum.
Kevin has multiple sclerosis.
Because of the disease, he experiences a constant range of debilitating
symptoms relating to the loss or degradation of functions controlled by the
central nervous system (involuntary physical reactions). There are
countless actions his muscles can no longer perform; others Kevin is gradually losing
the ability to control or are becoming increasingly difficult. His intentional
choices range from his physical/medical care and treatment to the personal
restrictions he places on himself and others because of the disease. Subconscious
measures range from the sometimes-tedious steps taken while performing
activities, even when he is not fully aware of his caution, to some of his most
self-destructive episodes, fueled by the anger of his loss.
Kevin has multiple sclerosis.
His disease will affect every dimension of his wellness moving forward.
Sometimes, the impact will be significant. On other occasions, it will merely
be a factor.
Kevin has multiple sclerosis.
He ultimately chooses his course of recognition, coping, satisfaction, and eventually
his response to the disease.
In regard to wellness, Kevin
owns the response these historical facts he encounters today (May 17, 2001):
- he
has multiple sclerosis.
- he
is 49 years old.
- he
has an 11-year-old daughter and put together exciting plans for when she’s back
with him on Wednesday.
- he
weighed 173.0 pounds this morning (up 5.6 since April 20).
- he
chose to not work out today, felt guilty, then put in a short sprint on his
trike. It was his best 5-mile time of the year.
- he
grinned from the memories of a fantastic evening with his girlfriend and is
looking forward to tonight.
- his
past financial decisions, pending obligations, and future earnings
- his
relationship with family.
- his
relationship with friends.
- his
relationship with God.
- the
value or insignificance of every reported news event.
- the
memories of his father’s suicide.
- his
private foundation.
- his
writings.
- his
alumni association.
- he
drank 48 ounces of coffee this morning and just brewed another.
- every single event in his past and those that will ultimately touch his life
today, and all succeeding tomorrows.
Some are random; some are
constantly present in his life. Other events make today an incredibly unique,
albeit ordinary, day.
He controls his intentional
responses. His awareness can help shape his unintentional actions. He will have
to deal with the consequences of all his body’s involuntary actions. Kevin
Byrne equally owns them all.
Kevin’s history does not shape
his wellness. His ability to capture and balance responses to each dimension of
existence is the sole factor determining his capacity for wellness. It will
never be simply a matter of “thinking everything is okay” for Kevin to fill
that capacity with positive energy, in turn creating marked improvements
physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In the rest of the story, we
will explore Kevin’s journey from October 6, 2019, and beyond. We will talk
about his responses to his 49 years of history (and counting). He neither
discovered nor are we trying to share a definitive Secret to Wellness. We hope
that his story will provide comfort to some, inspire others on their journey,
or simply entertain readers with stories of a man building a string of positive
moments without the need to legitimize his success with the phrase, “despite…”
We may startle some on
occasion with our interpretation of “improvements.” The benefits gained from
Kevin’s energy are not isolated to his mindset but also physical performance
and medical evaluation. We will review a holistic concept by sharing his
relationship with doctors, therapists, trainers, guides, family, friends, and
deep self-reflection.
While drafting this chapter,
Kevin was asked, “you mentioned physically, mentally, emotionally, but what
about spiritually?” For the time being, I documented the spiritual aspect of
his story bundled somewhere between mental and emotional. Kevin was not
prepared to dive into that part of his life just yet, not out of fear but
rather a self-described inability to articulate the journey. I will nudge him
when appropriate, hopefully expanding that concept at a later point in this
book.
Dimensions
of Wellness (8)
Physical Dimension
- Caring
for your body to stay healthy now and in the future
Intellectual Dimension
- Growing
intellectually, maintaining curiosity about all there is to learn, valuing
lifelong learning, and responding positively to intellectual challenges
- Expanding
knowledge and skills while discovering the potential for sharing your gifts
with others
Emotional Dimension
- Understanding
and respecting your feelings, values, and attitudes
- Appreciating
the feelings of others
- Managing
your emotions in a constructive way
- Feeling
positive and enthusiastic about your life
Social Dimension
- Maintaining
healthy relationships, enjoying being with others, developing friendships and
intimate relations, caring about others, and letting others care about you
- Contributing
to your community
Spiritual Dimension
- Finding
purpose, value, and meaning in your life with or without organized religion
- Participating
in activities that are consistent with your beliefs and values
Vocational Dimension
- Preparing
for and participating in work that provides personal satisfaction and life
enrichment that is consistent with your values, goals, and lifestyle
- Contributing
your unique gifts, skills, and talents to work that is personally meaningful
and rewarding
Financial Dimension
- Managing
your resources to live within your means, making informed financial decisions
and investments, setting realistic goals, and preparing for short-term and
long-term needs or emergencies
- Being
aware that everyone’s financial values, needs, and circumstances are unique
Environmental Dimension
- Understanding
how your social, natural, and built environments affect your health and
well-being
- Being
aware of the unstable state of the earth and the effects of your daily habits
on the physical environment
- Demonstrating
commitment to a healthy planet
(8) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508938/
***
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.com
www.neverstopneverquit.blogspot.com
Never Stop…
Never Quit…
Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.
