Contributed by Bob Rawlins, oxygen user and consultant to CAIRE Inc. ~
Yogi Berra, famous baseball catcher with 10 world series rings and well known for his “Yogi-isms” would say, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
Obviously, that is close to impossible, but, funny. I believe everyone at least one time if not many times comes to a fork in the road and must choose their way.
College choice, marriage, employment choices, right or wrong.
Think back and see if you can remember the last time you stood before or were thinking about that fork in the road. Would things be different if you chose the other lane? Do you get hung up on that often? We can’t change the past, so what is the sense in dwelling too long over it.
We must make many choices in our life. Our faith, what you believe in or not. How we raise our children, relationships with family and friends.
Then, we must try and live with that choice. It could be wrong at first, but the good news is there is always another fork and a choice to be made. Learn from mistakes and build momentum on the choices you made that are good and repeat them.
So, when we first started on our journey and were first diagnosed with our illness and was told what was happening next, it was all still a blur to me.
I think back when I was told oxygen therapy was going to be a FORVER part of my life and that the scarring on my lungs was not going to heal but probably get worse over time. I would need medicines, pulmonary and physical therapy, potentially a lung transplant and the life I once had would change drastically.
Let’s talk about that huge fork, probably more like a FORK-lift! 🙂
The shocker for me at 58 years young, past athlete in pretty good shape and a father of 11-year-old triplets, caring wife, twin sons, grandchildren and a partridge in a pear tree, LOL!
Well, no partridge, but Opal, my 4-year-old Havanese puppy!
Still, many years from retirement and a pretty good job.
Holy crap, I’m sweating with anxiety just remembering it! I need a white beach and salt life immediately.
Quicker than you can say Rumpelstiltskin, there were forks everywhere. I could have been at a formal dinner setting with all those forks!
Decisions to be made, paths to take.
We have all met that same fork I bet on these similar journeys.
Which path did you choose?
I decided that with the help I needed, I wanted to try and beat this lung disease. I thought I could workout, stay active, keep a strong mind, and I will get off this oxygen and be back to where I truly wanted to be.
Wrong fork path regarding the expectations, not the effort. How many times have you done everything you can, but the results weren’t exactly like you wanted? This is a good example for me.
Work is work and we can’t be always perfect. And you can’t change the things you directly can’t control.
Same here, the more I pressed physically the worse I was going to get. This is a marathon not a sprint.
Life unfortunately, can appear like a sprint, flashes by so fast, make the best of it, right?
My doctor who I love, told me that I can’t go about it this way. She said live your life to the fullest and was very proud of my approach. However, it wasn’t going to work and give me what I ultimately wanted. She is very direct and honest. IMPORTANT! Don’t sugar coat this!
“Keep the positive ’tude,” she said, but, curve the expectations and control what I can. Stay strong in body and mind. There will be more forks I’ll be in front of throughout this journey. As many of you will, I’m sure.
So, my friends, when you get to that fork in the road, take it! There is no wrong way if are going to manage your part! Ask questions, seek help!
Till next time!
Love you all!
#Breathe-easy
#Touch-a-heart
Laugh Every Day!!!
– Coach Bob
Bob Rawlins, 61, of Medina, Ohio, is husband to Terese and father to their 13-year-old triplets, a soccer coach, a hospital volunteer, and marketing guru. He uses a FreeStyle Comfort portable oxygen concentrator.
If you have been prescribed oxygen therapy, learn more about CAIRE by visiting www.caireinc.com/patients or by calling 1-877-704-0878 to talk to an oxygen advisor.