Death. Not exactly a topic to liven up a dinner party. But, people with cystic fibrosis face it and learn to deal with it at an early age. You know, I’d go in the hospital as a kid and get the news that a friend had passed away. We’d talk about him or her, and then life would go on. It was pretty matter-of-fact. I think we all became kind of numb to death. It was kind of like we were all in line, knowing our time would, eventually, come. That knowledge would cause some to became discouraged and simply give up. I’d hear them say, “Why bother? We’re all going to die anyway.” For others, like me, it provided motivation to fight harder.

After it happens so many times, we develop what some call chronic grief. The awareness that death will come early to most of us is always in the back of our minds, but we don’t dwell on it or let it control our lives.

We all have a choice to either make the most of every day or let fear grip us. As Chuck Swindle says, “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. . . .” I’ve reacted to my circumstances by choosing to live with joy, help others and fight to stay healthy. That’s my choice. What’s yours?

*Exercise of the week –  Spring had Sprung! Get to a local park and do some work on the “Monkey Bar’s” Hang & Stretch!

*Quote of the week – “Life is a fight round by round. I have the choice to fight or quit. I am responsible for the direction of my dreams. I will work hard and I will keep going no matter what. From this day forward I choose to fight.” – The Fighter’s Creed

photo credit: ultra168.com