How every loss with FA can be a learning opportunity
Practice doesn't have to make perfect as long as it leads to progress
My family and I are obsessed with the singer-songwriter Forrest Frank. His music is catchy, happy, positive, and full of bite-sized Biblical truths.
We especially enjoy listening to his song “No L’s” before sporting events to remind ourselves that the outcome of a game is a matter of perspective.
My son, Brooks, is at a pivotal age with sports, particularly baseball. Inching closer to his teenage years, competition has reached a new level of intensity. This provides opportunities to talk about how to handle losing. It’s a lesson we all face over and over, no matter our age or where we are in our lives.
When we talk about what taking “No L’s” means, we mean that every outcome is a chance to see that every loss can contain a lesson. You just have to look at what happened with an open mind, clarity, and honesty to see what worked and what didn’t. This can help guide you for the next time.
Practice makes progress
There is the saying “practice makes perfect.” I’ve heard it rephrased as “practice makes progress,” and often quote the revised version to our children, as I firmly believe it.
Striving for perfection can be dangerous. Therefore, I strive for progress instead. I know I will make mistakes, and things that are beyond my control will undoubtedly happen, but I can learn from them.
In the 12 years I’ve navigated life with Friedrich’s ataxia (FA), I have counted many wins and losses. Sometimes those losses are small, but sometimes they are huge and life-altering. Rather than just accept them as losses, I can reframe them instead as learning opportunities. When I look back on past experiences that weren’t ideal, I can learn from them and seek to do better next time.
I have some travel coming up — a cabin retreat with my family, a flight to Philadelphia for a neurologist visit, and a trip to a theme park in Orlando, Florida — and all of these are opportunities to remember past experiences. Having an idea about what terrain I will face, I can determine the best mobility aid. I can research accessible hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, and more. I can pack proper footwear and carefully pack my medications and supplements.
I know what tasks are unsafe, like transferring from my chair to my shower, so I use grab bars. I know that I become fatigued every day at 3 p.m., so I can plan to lie down at that time and refuel with a healthy snack..
Those of us in the FA community contend with a lot of adversity, but we have the unique ability to turn the L’s that naturally come our way into other L’s: losses to learning opportunities. And we have the opportunity to share what we’ve learned, develop a healthier perspective about those inevitable challenges, and raise awareness for others.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
Note: Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Friedreich’s Ataxia News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Friedreich’s ataxia.
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