Breathing Deeply: My Life With Cystic Fibrosis

...he will see him in his own proper place, and not in another; and he will contemplate him as he is. --Socrates in Plato's "Allegory of the Cave"

There was a time where I felt so emotionally and spiritually overwhelmed that I couldn't be very objective about anything. Viewing the world through "CF colored glasses" at times made me feel somewhat hopeless. It's natural to have up days and down days. I've learned that keeping a positive mental attitude (PMA for you Chris Farley/"Nick Foley" fans) has more to do with my actions and less to do with my mental state.

When I was growing up, we (my family and I) did our best to make sure that having CF didn't get in the way of experiencing regular life. I'm so glad that my parents never let me wallow in self-pity over my health. We went on several family vacations with intravenous meds in tow. One winter in particular we had plans to stay at a beach house. I felt so lousy, but I came to the conclusion that it was going to be much more bearable to feel lousy and be at the beach as opposed to feeling lousy and lying around on my bed at home.

Over the years I've gotten pretty good at muddling through when I haven't felt very well. It's not because I'm in a sense of denial. It's because I know that I'd much rather be in control. Cystic fibrosis may be an annoying resident in my body, but I'm still the landlord!

Bad days come, and bad days go. Good days come and good days go. I'm thankful for all the good days I have, and I don't want to let the bad days ruin them! I know this is easier said than done, but it's certainly worth the effort.