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Friday, March 25, 2011
Elite 8
It's that time of the year that basketball dominates the TV watchers consciousness with a lot of Championships. I think we all can agree that those with SCD celebrate achievement not through a National Title but through accomplishments associated with daily living and quality of life. I look at those obstacles confronting me similar to those confronting each college team on their way towards achieving the ultimate prize....The National Title. Let's Explore.
Often those with SCD view themselves from a narrow prism of dependency and victim hood. No matter how hard we try to gather words and wisdom to make our lives better we can't seem to lift ourselves out of our ruts. Living with SCD dictates that we must constantly shake the "woe is me" syndrome whether self or environmentally inflicted. Therefore, I submit that we need to take a different point of view. Like the National Championships each year we start over again training and fighting to win a championship called "Quality of Life". Our goal each year should be to shatter through our own obstacles; "Elite 8", "Final 4" and the "Championship" as a result of our training and commitment. Our quality of life crowns us as champions and carries us into the new year.
If we focus on not getting to far ahead of ourselves we can take note of what a beautiful life we SC Warriors enjoy. I know the pain is unbearable sometimes and visiting the Emergency Rooms and physicians can drive us and our caregivers mad, but thorugh it all we make it to the sweet 16 and on to the Elite 8.
You may wonder what is the Elite 8? It's a basketball metaphor describing the best 8 teams in America who battle each other to make it to the Final 4. While I am not trying to compare anyone with others and God forbid, I am not saying those Warriors who left the battle field early (RIP), were weaker than the next person, what I am talking about is how do we encourage ourselves..., and how do we recognize that through God's "grace and mercy" we walk through this "storm with our heads held high"? I am referring to ..."tooting your own horn!" Saying to yourself,... "I am a Winner".
Now your list may be different from mine but when I think about it an example of my Elite 8 may be I made it through; 1. 6 hospital stays, 2. chronic mini crisis that I treated with pain therapy, 3. end stage renal failure, 4. staph infections, 5. vitreous haemorrhages, 6. rheumatoid arthritis, 7. dialysis, and 8. my self doubt. That's my list of things I am dealing with today along with some others I forgot to mention that did not make my elite 8 (other acute or chronic complications).
So let's look for those shining moments that bring total enlightenment and joy to ourselves and others. Our testimony is powerful. Our joy is contagious. Our stamina is overflowing. So just as we will see those college basketball players stepping up their game to win the Championship we too can step up our game and win everything this disease throws at us.....because we truly are WINNERS!!!
Often those with SCD view themselves from a narrow prism of dependency and victim hood. No matter how hard we try to gather words and wisdom to make our lives better we can't seem to lift ourselves out of our ruts. Living with SCD dictates that we must constantly shake the "woe is me" syndrome whether self or environmentally inflicted. Therefore, I submit that we need to take a different point of view. Like the National Championships each year we start over again training and fighting to win a championship called "Quality of Life". Our goal each year should be to shatter through our own obstacles; "Elite 8", "Final 4" and the "Championship" as a result of our training and commitment. Our quality of life crowns us as champions and carries us into the new year.
If we focus on not getting to far ahead of ourselves we can take note of what a beautiful life we SC Warriors enjoy. I know the pain is unbearable sometimes and visiting the Emergency Rooms and physicians can drive us and our caregivers mad, but thorugh it all we make it to the sweet 16 and on to the Elite 8.
You may wonder what is the Elite 8? It's a basketball metaphor describing the best 8 teams in America who battle each other to make it to the Final 4. While I am not trying to compare anyone with others and God forbid, I am not saying those Warriors who left the battle field early (RIP), were weaker than the next person, what I am talking about is how do we encourage ourselves..., and how do we recognize that through God's "grace and mercy" we walk through this "storm with our heads held high"? I am referring to ..."tooting your own horn!" Saying to yourself,... "I am a Winner".
Now your list may be different from mine but when I think about it an example of my Elite 8 may be I made it through; 1. 6 hospital stays, 2. chronic mini crisis that I treated with pain therapy, 3. end stage renal failure, 4. staph infections, 5. vitreous haemorrhages, 6. rheumatoid arthritis, 7. dialysis, and 8. my self doubt. That's my list of things I am dealing with today along with some others I forgot to mention that did not make my elite 8 (other acute or chronic complications).
So let's look for those shining moments that bring total enlightenment and joy to ourselves and others. Our testimony is powerful. Our joy is contagious. Our stamina is overflowing. So just as we will see those college basketball players stepping up their game to win the Championship we too can step up our game and win everything this disease throws at us.....because we truly are WINNERS!!!
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