Making Peace With Circumstances

It’s almost a relief to have the holidays over and the New Year in full swing.

We had a wonderful time with Christopher on his winter break and had mixed feelings when he went back to school. It certainly frees up our time during the day — 5-year-olds tend to monopolize that. However, there was a real joy in the relaxing days spent with our little family with no pressure to be anywhere or do anything.

With Christopher back in school, our attention is focused on our goals in life. If you don’t have any, make setting them your first one. We’ll continue our mission to raise awareness of ALS, gather funds for research, and provide help and hope to anybody affected by this dreadful disease.

Healing

We recently participated in a personal achievement seminar focusing on the core issues of life, such as: What causes upset for you and why? Then, the process of healing these core issues was addressed, so participants could learn to stop them from sabotaging their dreams.

We attended a similar seminar by the same facilitator about nine years ago, and it changed our lives. Perhaps it’s one of the reasons why we look at ALS as a blessing instead of a curse.

Everyone handles the same circumstance, ALS for instance, in different ways. ALS has a way of triggering our worst fears — such as death, financial insecurity, loss of companionship. If we can find a way not to fear these things and come to a place of peace instead, then perhaps ALS can seem less devastating.

ALS has happened to us whether we fear it or not. That’s the circumstance. We have to make peace with where we are in our lives right now.

Freedom

Imagine the possibility that this life situation (ALS) might be the perfect opportunity to start or do something you’ve always wanted to — taking a trip, starting a new hobby, writing a book, mending or ending a relationship, becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be.

This could be a time in your life in which you have complete freedom to go, do and see (internally or externally) whatever has been put off by other circumstances.

We realize that people with ALS are in different stages of this mysterious disease. But the physical limitations of our bodies don’t have to invalidate the process of dreaming, either for those with the disease or their caregivers.

We’d like to leave you with a thought expressed at the seminar: Peace is love at rest and joy is love at play.

We hope that 2004 brings you much peace and joy!