Contributed by Bob Rawlins, consultant to CAIRE Inc.~
It’s crazy how time flies, isn’t it? It seems to me that as I get wiser in my years the time travels at warp speed. You close then open your eyes and your kids are grown, married, and having their own kids, am I right?
We can always hear that same old saying in the back of our minds saying, “Live each day to the fullest and best way we can.” Yes, we should try our best always. However, depending on the journey we are on it’s not always that easy.
We’ve talked about it all the time. Be positive, do what you can and do it to the best of your ability. Ask for help, talk to others, and help others who might be on the same journey in life as you are. This can be with a chronic illness or not. Everyone can learn from their own experiences and from others who may have experienced those same things in life. So Important!!!
This is the time of year to see how you are progressing in regard to your New Year’s resolutions. How are you doing at keeping diligent in achieving your goals?
The statistics I’ve read in several places have said that about 40 days into the new year most people start failing at their progress and eventually forget and never go back to them. Ok, most of the time the resolutions are usually centered around improving their own lives, versus trying to help those around them. That is the loss in the end. Should we stop and think about the disappointment we may cause others and they don’t even know.
Where does the true disappointment lie?
When time flies by so quickly it is amazing how so many things you may have planned don’t happen. Are the goals too broad or are they too difficult to reach?
But then it’s time to adjust those resolutions. I wanted to start doing things that I haven’t been able to do for many years before my double lung transplant. I am feeling great, and I’m blessed with a new journey that has started out the best I could imagine at this point. This was the year I was going to start doing things I missed.
My list included spending time supporting my family. Some new things — bowling again and playing golf. And, of course I wanted to volunteer more and maybe even get a part-time job to keep busy.
The easy bit was keeping up with the many interests that my family enjoys. This year I have attended concerts and competitions, and volunteered at football and marching band festivities. This has and always been such a blessing to me.
So, I started bowling and it is more difficult than I anticipated but I will just bowl less and realize that I probably won’t be as good as I used to be, who cares, have fun, right?
Golf is much more difficult to do. I used to be decent but now with my balance issues, I find it exceedingly difficult to do. So, I have adjusted my approach. I’ll play a few times a year, which is all.
I’ve had to get comfortable with the changes and be positive. You can too! As you navigate those changes you will increase your self-confidence.
My friends, our journey is never without challenges, and it is up to us to change course sometime – for the benefit of yourself and others. Nobody wants a party pooper or person with a bad attitude around. Don’t be that person, be happy for each day.
One of the guys I used to work with for years has been suggesting I take up clay shooting again. He never gave up on me. He waited for more than six years throughout my chronic lung disease and vestibular neuritis, IPF, and finally double lung transplant.
Now, I’m shooting clays every weekend with a bunch of great people and getting outside walking. Enjoying the fresh air and walking from 8 -16 target stations has been such a pleasure. I’m not good yet, but who cares, I can do it and I have no balance issues at all. I can fish there too, when the weather gets better. Again, no balance issues. My cheerful outlook is much better even with having to adjust some of the goals I wanted to attain to stay active.
As for the part-time job – I am now working for Uber and hoping to find something a little more consistent as well.
Friends, it’s ok to move away from the activities you can’t do anymore. Find new ones!!! The important part is that you’re not giving up, you’re changing direction.
Do things that you want to do and can!!!
Till next time,
#behappy #staystronginyourambitions #touchaheart #laughandsmileevery #breatheeasy
Love you all,
Coach Bob
Bob Rawlins, 65, of Medina, Ohio, is a double lung transplant recipient and a patient advocate for those who suffer from respiratory diseases and have been prescribed supplemental oxygen therapy. He is husband to Terese and father to their 18-year-old triplets. He also has two grown twin sons and four grandchildren. He serves as a hospital volunteer, band dad and chaperone, and marketing guru.
If you have been prescribed oxygen therapy, learn more about CAIRE by visiting www.caireinc.com/patients or by calling 1-800-482-2473 to talk to an oxygen advisor.
The contents of this blog post are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician for personalized medical advice. When using any oxygen therapy device please consult the applicable product instructions for use for product indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and detailed safety information.
Image by Sharon Ang from Pixabay