Save the Date

First published March 1, 2022, revised May 27, 2025.

I will continue to update as the event comes closer.

There is a wave of frustration and anger (and sometimes violence) directed at insurance companies these days, fed up policyholders pushing back against suspect practices. I choose a different response to their methods.

A Party of the Ages!

When: Saturday, February 5, 2033

Place and Time: TBD

 

Dear Standard Insurance Company (all executives and employees),

Please save the date for my event: “Celebration of Tomorrow and Plan for an Exciting Future.”

Why February 2033?

My story begins on February 23, 2022, when one of your Senior Disability Benefits Analysts presented me with an offer regarding my long-term disability claim. He flattered me by taking a moment “to offer an opportunity to settle your claim in exchange for a lump-sum payment.”

It’s every little boy’s dream to be chosen for such an honored opportunity, especially since “The Standard does not routinely settle LTD claims for a number of reasons.” I won’t lie; I was tickled pink.

Unfortunately, after several rounds of misleading calculations and not-so-veiled threats, like “we know that you write books” and “if you do not accept the offer, you will still have to regularly validate your ongoing disability (to prevent fraud),” I still could not understand how you came to the lump-sum dollar amount presented. My math skills are usually on point, making this discrepancy all the more puzzling. I said it was wrong — he said it was right, showing me “the full three pages of the present value calculation you received.”

I thanked him, then showed him again, this time in detail, how his calculations were wrong.

And the Truth Shall Set You Free!

Your determined analyst persevered, taking my question regarding the deductible income adjustment to your actuarial department.

Imagine his surprise when the little scrapper discovered there was another variable not included in “the full three pages of the present value calculation!” Forget trying to imagine my surprise; I was not taken aback.

Apparently, “the present value calculation process incorporates actuarial mortality assumptions.”

So, since your team did so much hard work and determined the correct mortality assumptions for an individual living on disability with multiple sclerosis, I figured I would take the baton and do some more of that math I love so much.

By the calculation of your actuarial department, discounting for the time value of money, my life expectancy maxes out at 93 additional months. I will be dead sometime before the end of January 2033, never seeing the ripe old age of 62.

Let’s Just Pretend

I know your employees are smart, but please humor me for just a moment. What if I am that oddity who exceeds the medical expectations of Standard Insurance Company’s actuarial department?

That would be nice. I definitely want to celebrate such a milestone.

Therefore, please save the date. When the reaper’s stopwatch bottoms out on January 31, 2033, if I’m still here, I would like to celebrate with all my dear family, friends, and advocates at The Standard. Advanced planning like this may not be enough to clear everyone’s schedule on a Tuesday, so let’s push it to that Saturday: February 5, 2033.

There will be food, drinks, music, and lots of enthusiasm. I may even enjoy a piece of cake!

Every penny from my long-term disability after January 31, 2033, will go to a very public celebration of the fact that I am still thriving, not just because of my desire to Never Stop… Never Quit…, but thanks to the avalanche of support so many provide in our fight against the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis.

In the Meantime

I have lots of party planning to do. Thank goodness it’s not for another 94 months. Formal invitations will follow as we get closer to the event.

In the meantime, here’s some wonderful reading for your actuarial department about the life expectancy of individuals living with multiple sclerosis. The National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke — Wow! Say that five times fast with a mouthful of crackers — published it in 2020, with recent revisions.

“Multiple Sclerosis”

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/multiple-sclerosis

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder. It is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that in MS the immune system—which normally protects us from viruses, bacteria, and other threats—mistakenly attacks healthy cells. MS symptoms usually begin in young adults, between the ages of 20 and 40. 

MS affects people differently. A small number of people with MS will have mild symptoms with little disability, whereas others will experience worsening symptoms that will lead to increased disability over time. Most people with MS have short periods of symptoms that resolve fully or partially after they appear. These periods are followed by long stretches without noticeable symptoms. Most people with MS have a normal life expectancy.

Yes, I will milk this for all it is worth, starting with “Save the Date” t-shirts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FC7ZH4H3

Get yours today!

I endure enough challenges to deal with daily, so please don’t stack the deck against me more.

Please consider this my official decline of your opportunity.

On the off chance I am dead before February 2033, please extend my “Nice Job” to your actuarial department. But that’s not going to happen.

I hope you’ll still come to my party!

Kevin

 

This is not about what my life will be like when my fight is over.

I will never stop…

I will never quit…

I will do this for them.

Never Stop… Never Quit…^®

***

Please consider supporting NEVER STOP NEVER QUIT.

DONATE HERE

100% of your donation will go to our fight. We pay the cost of managing our foundation.

All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You will receive a receipt.

 

Absolutes, Uncertainties, and the Outer Edges of What Could Be

There should be a warning sticker on every computer and typewriter. If you start writing a letter, article, or blog any time after November 28, there is a banned list of phrases.

• What a year it’s been!
• Looking back on the past 12 months…
• Any reference to The Highs and the Lows or How Far We’ve Come.

Attempts to use these should trigger a violent reaction. I suggest my creative writing professor’s response to a recent story I turned in: “If this were my movie, as soon as this guy says that, the woman next to him pulls out a wet mackerel and slaps him with it.”

I’ll try to avoid clichés here. All I have in my house are frozen salmon fillets. That would hurt.

***

I woke up this morning feeling content, at peace with my life. The word happy wasn’t my first reaction. It has been so long since I thought in terms of that simple word. But, today was my day to start thinking about simple declarations. Think of this as an update to my 14-part journey, “Reconstructing and Defining Kevin.” After the most emotional year I can recall, my focus will be the reflections and resolutions of a man in the final days before his 50th birthday.

Yeah, I’m happy. I reread my entry back in July, “Reconstructing and Defining Kevin Part 14: Uncharted Territory,” and realized I still shape my world every day with the help of Dr. Debbie Stoewen’s discussion on the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. More than two years have passed since I began my journey, over nine months since I began sharing my experience. Every day, I work to improve my body’s responses (every intentional, subconscious, and involuntary action) to life around me. Improving my capacity to monitor, and ultimately regulate in a positive fashion, those responses in each dimension of existence directly impacts my wellness.

So, yes, I’m happy.

My struggle now is to understand if I can be happy, content, and at peace with my life while still being scared to death about my future. Multiple sclerosis continues to destroy my body — exercise, rehabilitation, diet, and lifestyle changes only delay the inevitable physical decline I experience. MS will chip away at me, sometimes snagging large chunks along the way. The permanent damage from my fall this past January has left me in significant and permanent pain. My best guess is I have 2 to 5 years left while still living independently. One more fall could erase that timeline. My list of ailments and issues is significant. There is no cure. This will get worse.

Yes, I am happy. I live life to the fullest, within the constraints of my body. By framing my life within the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, I evaluate every intentional, subconscious, and involuntary response and their impact on my wellness. The changes I made, and they are significant, are not measured in terms of good or bad, better or worse. My body’s response is the only consideration.

This effort to Reconstruct and Define Kevin is successful, but it is far from over. My birthday/Christmas/New Year/wellness celebration is time to take center stage and shout, “I’m Happy!” Stories will be the how’s and why’s of my declaration.

You will see two different subjects posted on my blog site: NeverStopNeverQuit.blogspot.com.

My Journey. Undertakings, successes, challenges, and the everyday direction of my life, all framed within the Eight Dimensions of Wellness. I will show you examples of how Dr. Stoewen’s article was a gateway into this concept of wellness, “a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fueling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit” (1). I can’t say enough about her article’s impact on my outlook today and tomorrow. I encourage everyone to read her approach to the eight mutually interdependent dimensions: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial, and environmental (1). I will refer to it often, but it is only the first step in an eye-opening world. Click here to read her on the NIH website.

My Stories. Some of the many random short stories running through my head at any given time. A few were previously published — most will be new to my readers. The reason I’m posting them here, for free, goes back to My Journey. I’ll talk more about that in the future, but I just need to get somebody’s out of my mind (and make room for more). They will be raw, unedited, and occasionally inappropriate for all audiences. I’d love to hear your thoughts or feedback at any time – don’t hesitate to reach out.

I will intermix the two on my blog. I don’t want to start tracking another site. I already have enough out there.

My takeaway for you today is simple: I’m happy, grateful for everyone in my life, and thankful for the chance to share my birthday/Christmas/New Year/wellness celebration with you.

Until next time.

Love,

Kevin

 

I will never stop…

I will never quit…

This is my story

---

Please consider a donation to NEVER STOP NEVER QUIT.

100% of your donation will directly support our fight. We pay the cost of managing our foundation.

All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You will receive a receipt.

References

(1) Stoewen, Debbie L. “Dimensions of wellness: Change your habits, change your life.” The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne, vol. 58, no. 8, 2017, pp. 861-862.

Reconstructing and Defining Kevin Part 14: Uncharted Territory

 

Part 14: Uncharted Territory

 

This is my 14th and final entry into the journey of reconstructing and defining myself. When I took those first steps into this effort more than a year ago, my objective was ill-defined. Though I cannot swear it to be true, I believe my plan was an almost whimsical approach to documenting the success of my 12-month effort to repair “something broken” in my life. I was searching for resolution; I was looking for closure.

I found neither. Instead, the truth I came to realize was that there will never be a lasting resolution of my priorities. That is not a bad thing. Each individual concern I hold dear will require attention and care for the rest of my life, more on some days than others. That is a good thing.

If I Could Offer One Take Away, This Would Be It

My body’s responses (every intentional, subconscious, and involuntary action) in real time determine its condition when facing every succeeding moment. Only through my capacity to monitor, and ultimately regulate in a positive fashion, those responses in each dimension of existence can I profoundly affect my wellness.

By setting aside the desire for control or direction over external factors, I am choosing to focus on my own responses. When I am up for the task myself, I will seize control and regulate my actions to enhance the values, goals, and many cherished pieces of my life. When assistance is needed, partially or in full, I will employ the people and the tools I have assembled. Growing and caring for these resources must become an integral part of my life. I cannot do this without help.

I encourage my readers to learn more about The Eight Dimensions of Wellness (or the variation you find fitting). Through them, I have developed a mindset that functions as the support I need to exist – to thrive. Every experience is different.

My Experience

What about all your other issues (the start of this all)?

Although it may seem as if the points I discussed earlier in this blog series have fallen to the wayside, please be assured they are integral in every step of my development. I have established a goal of resetting my paradoxical relationship of holding onto memories (of the past) and anxiety over consequences (of the future). I am a work in progress.

I frame my world every day with the help of Dr. Debbie Stoewen’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness.

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

As an individual battling multiple sclerosis, aggravated by countless secondary complications, care and attention start with the efforts I must take. A massive collection of providers, family, friends, and connections to the resources I need to come together every day of my life. Whether I guide their steps or accomplish my tasks according to their direction, we have to work together if I am going to thrive.

My next efforts will spend some time detailing my experiences in each of these eight dimensions of wellness. It is my hope that the words I offer will entertain my readers while providing a glimpse into what it may take for someone, be it themselves or someone close, to survive. Perhaps the example I demonstrate can comfort a person who has that horrifying feeling nobody else could possibly understand.

I promise to continue sharing my life for no other reason but because I want to breathe life into pages far beyond anything I have accomplished to date, telling tales conjured up by my constant noise. No longer will I look to put words down solely to ease my anxieties. My stories will be written because, as my mind floods with the images I create, sometimes I smile. I may laugh, cry, or even nod my head in approval of the tale. On other occasions, the crafted images chill me to the core. I want to elicit a bounty of reactions as I breathe life into stories, narratives, reflections, and rantings.

This is my story about how my ambiguous “everything” twice came crashing down, as if from every possible direction, and the gap of time before my eventual reconciliation with The Eight Dimensions of Wellness.

Every individual’s experience is unique, as are their needs in each dimension of existence.

Find your own peace — I hope my discovery will help.

The End

 

Reference

Stoewen, D. L. (2017, August). Dimensions of wellness: Change your habits, change your life. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508938/

 

 

***

The full 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

 

Reconstructing and Defining Kevin Part 13: Now What?

Part 13: Now What?

 

What do you want for your future? How can you shape it?

These two questions are always running through my mind, superseding all prior constant noises. June 9 was the first time I ever had serious thoughts about life 10, 20, or 30 years beyond the present. Before then, they never seemed necessary. I have no memories of the childhood version of Kevin giving much thought to shaping his future (I don’t recall many events from when I was younger, but that’s a different discussion). Stories about people who strove and sacrificed to achieve their “lifelong dream” exactly in their always-envisioned manner are foreign to me.

My recollections do not contain any of those lifelong dreams. There are no visions of me longing to become starting shortstop for the New York Yankees, no fantasies of blasting off into space on the first crewed trip to Mars. Perhaps they were there long ago but I have just forgotten what it was like to be a child with a dream. At least those visions make it into my stories. I digress…

I unintentionally lived with the shortsighted focus to play the cards I had been dealt. “Graduate high school then go off to West Point” was a 16-month plan, the furthest into the future my goals have ever spanned. From that point forward, I made choices off a menu of reasonably expected options my future presented. I rarely strayed beyond the set selection; I never created a purpose. It was a knee-jerk reaction with no meaningful action plan to reinforce the following steps if I did.

“Let’s just get in the air and go. We’ll get a better view of our options once we start to climb.”

CW3 Doug Davis, circa 1995

As one of my old instructor pilots taught me, sometimes it is impossible to plan the next 15 steps if you don’t commit to your first.

My approach to life was in no way a sad course. I imagine it is quite common. The difference between something you decided to do and a lifelong dream is the efforts to reach that mark. I could go on and on about the countless events, achievements, and accomplishments in my life of which I am immensely proud. I genuinely wanted those milestones and yearned to see them fulfilled; I even desired some. For many reasons, however, they were already potential life choices laid out ahead of me. It was a matter of standing at a fork in the road, choosing to go this way instead of that way, and making the necessary efforts with every step I took while I trekked up my new path.

How many times have you imagined your possible life had you gone “that way” yesterday? But I digress yet again…

When I started this journey on October 6, 2019, I was not looking for a life-changing goal. For the duration of the story so far, my focus to fix “broken pieces of my life” was on physical and mental health measurements. I saw how they were intertwined in this concept of wellness: my capacity to monitor, and ultimately regulate in a positive fashion, my responses in each dimension of existence. On June 6, 2021, I discovered that what I have been searching for this entire time was already written in 2,097 pages of stories I will someday share with Eleanor. The answer was not buried in those computer files; it is what they represent. Since before she was born, I have kept a journal. I write to Ellie as if I am talking to the grown woman she will one day become. It is a private collection of thoughts, for my eyes only until the day my journal becomes hers.

I took a break from writing to Eleanor for a while. There are so many reasons why I did not sit down and talk about her dad, our family before she was born, our life together, recent news events, or just simple banter. Yet, regardless of conflicting priorities, the obligation has always remained. A burning press in my heart started our pages again after a 436-day hiatus. Three days later, I found the source of this unmistakable longing. For over 12 years, I was journaling to my daughter in order to breathe life into events that have shaped us both.

How do I want my future to look? I want to breathe life into the crazy collection of ramblings constantly running through my mind.

My journal to Eleanor will continue — a lasting memory of my unfiltered thoughts. I can picture her curled up on a sofa, skimming through nonsense rants and “back in the day” stories while hoping to catch occasional glimpses of her father’s soul. After another length of time, a day may come when she chooses to add pages of her own to perhaps share with her child. Either way, the journal is no longer mine. Every word belongs to Eleanor.

My future needs to go far beyond a diary for my daughter. I want to be a writer. Countless reactions from my readers will measure the achievement of my goal.

I want to breathe life into pages far beyond anything I have accomplished to date, telling tales conjured up by my constant noise. No longer will I look to put words down solely to ease my anxieties. My stories will be written because, as my mind floods with the images I create, sometimes I smile. I may laugh, cry, or even nod my head in approval of the tale. On other occasions, the crafted images chill me to the core. I want to elicit a bounty of reactions as I breathe life into stories, narratives, reflections, and rantings.

To pursue this dream over the next 10, 20, 30 years, and beyond, I must define my life-changing goals. The least of which includes - I need to learn how to write. Hopefully, that will be the fun part! I already mentioned how my goal to begin a graduate school program for a Masters in Creative Writing failed. I asked for feedback on why admissions rejected my application, but the only response was an encouragement to reapply next year. That seems pointless. Roadblock #1! I guess I will have to create another way to meet my objective.

I also need to confront many long-overdue steps to ensure my ongoing wellness in every dimension (creating an environment where I can apply a long-term focus towards my goals while harboring my resources). When I reflect upon the last six months, my initial reaction is I can’t go through that again. However, as I slowly come to grips with the fact that I will go through that again, my mind is grappling with what I have endured and the permanency of the decisions I face today.

The paragraph above summarizes the enormity of my efforts explored throughout this blog series, the entire reason for my work beginning October 6, 2019.

June 21, 2021, at 12:58 PM, was the first time I realized, “Perhaps my answers are this simple.”

Within the confines of my new reality, I will create an environment that expands my capacity to monitor, and ultimately regulate in a positive fashion, my responses in each dimension of existence.

In less than six months, every tenet I discovered seemed to collapse under the strain of dreadful events. Only when I forced myself to look back upon my Dimensions of Wellness did I realize these certainties.

• I am stronger than I possibly imagined. Whatever is required of me to change, learn, abandon, or adopt to enhance my wellness, I will adapt.
• My body is more fragile than I ever realized. My disability, no longer simply an annoyance, must be a central figure in any plan for this next stage. I will be in significant pain for the rest of my life. The sooner I accept these realities, the faster I can better manage my healthcare.
• Without living my life under the fear of expecting the unexpected, I need to remain prepared when it happens again (whatever shape it takes the next time). It will.
• I can be happy without having all the answers. I can remain content while, at the same time, disappointed and dissatisfied by setbacks.
• I cannot, nor do I want to, do this alone.

My thanks go out to Eleanor for the part she played in the reset of my view. When my mind turned dark, and I stopped searching to define my wellness, she was there. My little love is the reason these last two blog entries have gone from my world collapsing to plans for the next 10, 20, 30 years, and beyond!

The only way I knew how to show my thanks was through my words.

This story is one of those moments which causes me to smile!

 

***

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

Reconstructing and Defining Kevin, Part 09 Defined by History

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.