January 05, 2009 Michael AugustineLisez en Francais
Happy New Year!
Well, it’s the start of another calendar year and with it comes the promise of happier times - better times. We use the occasion to look back on our lives to see everything that went wrong and, in classic holiday tradition, we make promises to ourselves to do things better, or at least differently. We make resolutions to do everything right!
And every year the same thing happens - we succeed only at disappointing ourselves when (and not if) we fail to keep those resolutions, and then we lose momentum. This year, let’s try something different...
Try looking at 2008 and finding those things you actually did right! It doesn’t matter if you are living with multiple sclerosis, or are just an everyday Joe, you’ll be surprised at how many positive achievements there actually are to be found. How many times did you cook dinner, or clean the house, even though you didn’t have the energy? How often did you help your child, or your brother or sister, with their homework, even though it was challenging for you? How many days last year did you simply get out of your bed and face the day, even when giving up would have been both easier...and allowed?
Right now, you are on the endMS website looking for ways to help yourself, or someone you care about. I don’t know about you, but just facing the harsh reality of living with MS is a daunting task in of itself. Making the decision to live that life to the fullest, even in the face of an unpredictable and difficult future, that is the definition of courage - that is the true definition of a resolution!
I’m being literal here. Look it up if you don’t believe me!
One of my favorite quotes comes from a movie. It’s about a very average man who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances, who nonetheless manages to accomplish truly remarkable things. When that man finally realizes the potential of his situation, he takes hold of that opportunity - seizes it - and then says to the world: “you never really know what you can do until you stand up and decide to try.”
Truer words have never been spoken!
This year, rather than promising yourself to do things “better,” look to your own achievements from the past and resolve to just keep trying your best - use that momentum to carry you into the future further than you’d have ever thought you could possibly go. It’s a semantic difference I grant you, but it’s one that makes all the difference in the world!
I wish all of you the very best for 2009. May the year bring good health, happiness, and above all, success at whatever you choose to accomplish! Happy New Year!
Irreverently Yours,
Aug, who plans to keep his momentum going!