Celebrate the good things in life, even when hardships mount

Life has not been easy lately. On top of the constant daily struggles with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and its various symptoms that I must adapt my life to accommodate, hardship has surrounded my village.

I fractured my femur in September and required surgical repairs. Our Great Dane, Hank, passed away suddenly and tragically at just 4 years old from undetected congestive heart failure. One of my best friends suddenly lost her father. Another of my best friends suffered a small stroke. My family just marked the first anniversary of my mother-in-law’s passing from widespread cancer.

Needless to say, life has thrown a lot at us. So, how am I halfway through November, which is typically viewed as a month of gratitude in light of the Thanksgiving holiday?

I am going through November like I always do: by acknowledging and addressing the hard while celebrating the good.

There is so much good in this world that deserves just as much focus as the bad, and that’s what I’ll do.

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Control the things you can

How do I do this, you ask? By controlling what I can. I can control my routine: bedtime, exercise, water consumption, my family menu, what I do (or don’t) watch or listen to. I can control what I allow my mind to fixate on. I can control what I spend money on. I can control the choices I make. I can control my tone and words when speaking to my friends and family. I can control who I confide in and seek counsel from.

Making positive and healthy choices where I can seems like an ideal place to start. Then, I will actively seek the blessing in my life.

I can celebrate that my children are happy and healthy. I can take pride in my recovery from surgery so far and work hard to keep moving forward. I can focus on making the slew of birthdays in my extended family memorable. I can live in the contagious excitement my children feel about our Thanksgiving trip to a gorgeous cabin in Oklahoma.

I have a framed artwork by my bed that reads, “There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy.” This might seem cheesy or like the philosophy of an unaware optimist, but it is a daily affirmation that has had a big impact on my life.

Life will throw plenty of hard things your way that can quickly and easily consume you, but it can also send a lot of good your way. You have to make the choice to let the good impact your day, not just the bad.

I recently wrote a column about the idea that “a bad day doesn’t equal a bad life,” and I think that is such a healthy and realistic mindset.

Focusing on the good things in life doesn’t belittle the hard things; it just takes away their power to set the tone for your life.

This November, I am choosing to celebrate the good things in my life as we deal with the hard things. There really are so many beautiful reasons to be happy, and I choose happiness.

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

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.