Optimism and Courage

Here is a quote I found about optimism.
“May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism.”
Can we face each new situation with courage and optimism? Is that possible when we have hit so many brick walls, been denied access to avenues that we thought were possible options because a doctor, insurance company or other disconnected soul has the power and authority to make that decision? Can we be optimistic when the history of our recent past screams of failure, dissapointment and discouragement.? How do we face these situations with courage when the system we are forced to endure is built on the premise that if they can wear us down they will win. Where is the voice for those who have little or no control for the symtoms, weaknesses and pain that wreck havoc on our frail and mortal bodies? If we talk to much we are a complainer. If we fail to talk then we starve them of the information they need to help us. Do we walk into each appointment or procedure with courage and optimism, knowing this will be the time it all works? For most of us we are worn down by the pain, the never ending symptoms, the discouragement of the limited or non existent victories. How can we be optimistic when we can't even imagine what it would be like to have the glass half full or even close? If the glass is half full do we change and say its half empty or just scrap it and get a new glass? I wrote on here the other days that when life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade, keep looking for a box of oranges. Maybe optimism for some of us is opening our eyes and saying everything in me says close them and don't even think about getting up but we get up anyway. Maybe courage is going one more time to that doctor that has failed to find the magic cure the last 30 times we went to them. One thing is not optional, we will unfortunately have pain and conflict. May they somehow give us the strength to walk through life facing the seemingless continual situations.

fatherjohn
You have given me allot to think about, at one time or another I have thought about all those things, you have mentioned! But you know for me, my options are limited, ( and I think for many, if not all of us here, they also are limited) from my dealings with my wife with this divorce, to my battle with pain, and lately depression! I WILL NOT lay and down and roll over and give-up and give-in!!!!! I WILL NOT DO THAT!!! For several years now I have posted over on the the Sleep Apnea Support forum, and I have preached that, Attitude, and Determination, Patients, Persistences, and Perserverance is what will make you successful with your treatment! I have no use for people who give up or quit treatment! Sleep Apnea can kill you! and it can kill others if you fall asleep at the wheel when driving a car! Quitting and Giving up are not an option!It is just to important!!!! The only option for Sleep Apnea is treating it!!! Well why should it be any different for Chronic Pain or anything else in life? I have told people on the Sleep Apnea Forum that you do what ever you have to do to make the treatment work for you! Doesn't that apply for everything? And especially for all of us suffering with CP. We fight the system we fight the doctors we do what we need to do to get the the treatment we need! So we can at least be able to tolerate and live with the pain until we can find a way to get rid of it completely! But we don't give up and let it completely ruin our lives! At least I don't, and from the post that I see every one here make, they don't either! I can only assume the ones that do give up don't post here! fatherjohn I do believe that quote you posted on optimism just about says it all!!! And I do believe it is true!


White Beard

Wonderful words of wisdom, Fatherjohn! You're an awesome man and thanks for taking your precious time to share it with all of us.

Warm hugs,
Chutzie

Fatherjohn,

What beautiful words. I feel as if I could have written every single one of them. It is so hard to stay positive when it seems that the world has set you up for failure. What did we ever do to deserve this? Yet even at our worst, even when we feel we can't go on, we do. We put smiles on our faces, acting as if everything is okay. We persevere. Something deep down in us keeps us going, fighting until the end. And that takes courage. We are fighters, strong and courageous. No matter how tough life gets we need to remember that it takes many battles to win a war. Thanks for reminding me of this, it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.

hugs,
Skeye