I remember growing up I learned there was a difference between a Want and a Need. We were far from wealthy, but I wouldn’t say we were poor either. We were probably lower middle class. We had enough to get by but without a lot of extra. We may not have had the nicest clothes or drove a fancy car, but we always had food on the table. My mother could take a pound of hamburger and magically stretch it to feed the whole family. That’s what you did back then when things were tight.
I don’t remember my parents ever discussing Wants versus Needs. I believe it was something I learned in grade school. I wasn’t always good at making the proper distinction, but I tried the best I could. I think part of practicing Wants versus Needs is easier in an environment when money is tight. When there’s extra money in the budget, that’s when the distinction between Wants and Needs becomes confusing.
For some reason, today I thought about how Wants versus Needs applies to Myasthenia Gravis. I realized the distinction can become a little more obvious due to the physical limitations we face, but we still have to decide if some things are truly needed or just wanted.
Let’s start with the easy one first. We need proper medical care. We need the proper medication. We need the support of family and friends but coupled with a dose of tough love to make sure we don’t become dependent. We need the strength to fight. We need to realize we’re not alone.
We want to be able to do all the things we used to be able to do, but sometimes that’s just not practical, or even possible. We want to wake up pain free, but that isn’t something we can control. We want to be the person we used to be, but if the journey has taught us anything, it’s that life changes and we need to be willing and able to adapt.
So, what’s the solution when you’ve taken care of your needs but still have wants? Choice.
We can choose to do things beyond our limits, but risk consequences of doing so, like injury or extended recover time. We can choose to roll up in a ball and feel sorry for ourselves, but that’s not going to accomplish anything and only lead to despair and depression. We can choose to remain strong and fight, knowing we have Myasthenia Gravis; it doesn’t have us. We can choose to remain positive and be grateful for all the ways in which God blesses us, appreciating life instead of just trudging through it.
It’s never wrong to have a Need and sometimes it can be quite good for us to have a Want. Wants can inspire and motivate us to reach for something more, something better.
I Want a life of faith, gratitude and strength and I Choose to go after it. I recognize my Needs and will take care of them but I Want more. There’s no guilt in wanting more as long as you have the desire, the ability, and the drive to reach for it.