Recently I had someone ask me what my biggest concern is with having Myasthenia Gravis. I would have to say the thing I struggle with the most is the fear of the unknown, of what’s to come.
The unknown is always scary. When things are challenging in our lives, we develop a plan and find a way to maneuver around them. We do what it takes. It’s a lot more difficult to develop a plan for the future because we can’t see what’s ahead and we don’t know what to expect. That leaves us hanging in limbo.
The limbo I’m referring to is not to be confused with the dance game where people place themselves in awkward back-bending situations trying to maneuver under a bar. (I was never very good at that, by the way.) I’m talking about the limbo of uncertainty.
Remember back in high school when we were asked what we wanted to do in life? Some knew right away and ran charging towards their ultimate goal. Others weren’t quite sure. After all, how can you possibly know what you want to do for the rest of your life when you’re 18 years old?
Were you aware that up to 70% of people end up working in a field different from the one they originally studied or aimed for after finishing high school or college? I was surprised to learn that percentage was so high. It’s because those people were presented with new opportunities and chose to pursue them.
When planning our future, we evaluate our options and pivot when new opportunities arise. Not so when dealing with chronic progressive conditions like Myasthenia Gravis. We assume our symptoms will progress, but we have no idea how quickly or by how much. Quite frankly, there aren’t a lot of options for people with MG. There are some new meds on the market if you’re sero-positive and there’s new research going on, but we still don’t have methods to permanently stop all symptoms and we don’t yet have a cure.
I’m one of those people who like to keep my mind active. I always have several things going on and ideas pop into my head all the time. I could actively pursue all those ideas, but realism always seems to set in. I’m no longer a young man, so I don’t know how many years I have left. I also don’t know how quickly MG will progress in me or how severe it will be. As a result, I sometimes hesitate to pursue some of those opportunities.
I also catch myself being hesitant to make any long-term plans. I find myself afraid to plan too far ahead because I don’t know what I’ll be able to do, or should I say “what I won’t be able to do”. That’s simply not a good way to go through life.
My favorite hockey player of all times is Wayne Gretzky. He once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” That’s sage advice. I have to go back to that quote whenever I feel hesitant about making plans for the future. I can play it safe, stay home, sit on the couch and wait for Myasthenia Gravis to control me, or I can seize opportunities, make plans, do things, and maneuver around any difficulties that may arise. I choose the later.
Does the future concern me? I’d be lying if I said it didn’t, but I’m not going to let it consume me. If I have an opportunity that pops up, I’ll probably go for it. I’ll just have to handle the inconveniences I run into. At the same time, I need to make sure I temper my enthusiasm with a bit of practicality. I’ll probably turn down that invitation to climb Mount Everest. I’m not going to just jump into something without fully evaluating whether or not I’m capable of doing it.
When I get concerned about tomorrow, I turn to God. He gives me strength. He gives me courage. He gives me perseverance. He gives me love. Most importantly, He gives me hope.
Sure, there are times when we get concerned about tomorrow, but we can’t allow our concerns to keep us from enjoying and getting the most out of life. When we learn to focus on opportunities and let go of concerns, tomorrow isn’t so scary after all.
Just like that great song by Fleetwood Mac: “Don’t Stop“
“If you wake up and don’t want to smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You’ll see things in a different way
Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow“