A New Stage of Discovery: Onward and Upward
A New Stage of Discovery: Onward and Upward
“Vision looks upward and becomes faith.” ~ Stephen Samuel Wise
In Courage Doesn’t Always Roar, I was caught a bit by surprise at the news I heard. I dare not share the first thought or words that popped in my head. This is a G-rated site after all. (Ha, ha) It was indeed a very minor bump in the road. The whole point is to remain healthy and enjoying life, right. I did what was necessary and the worst I had to deal with was the horrible side effects of the regimen I was on and that was all. It is funny how what happens in your life shapes you in different ways.
“Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.” ~ William James
During this same time frame, we were placed on notice to evacuate due to an out of control wildfire. At that moment, so many thoughts rush through your mind, your blessings, your loved ones and friends, your obstacles that you have overcome, etc. How do you measure what is most important to you and what to take with you? Sadly, there were three that lost their lives and about 27 homes that were lost—a lot of contemplating and reminiscing over life going on inside this old head. Then, when I least expected it, and while I was mulling over all of this, a job offer arose. A full-time job to boot! I’d say I was blind-sided! In The Stigma of Lyme, I was a bit frustrated because I had not been able to overcome the obstacle of finding a job.
Wow! I would have to go back to school to re-learn and learn some new things; I was frantic! Would I be able to get my brain to work again? Would I pass the test? Would I be able to catch on quick? How are my multi-tasking skills? My gosh! It was like re-living my first day of middle school all over again! Yikes!
“There is no satisfaction that can compare with looking back across the years and finding you’ve grown in self-control, judgment, generosity, and unselfishness.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox
One step at a time. One day at a time. It has been a couple of weeks. I am re-discovering myself once again. Another stage of discovery, after all, when dealing with all those beasts, you know Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, or those other TBD’s, you experience a different sense of discovery. You learn to be strong when you are scared to death. You learn to remain hopeful when everyone else around you has given up hope. You learn to stand on your own because you’re battling against the norm. You learn to research and advocate for yourself because there are so many that are out there telling you that you are crazy and delusional. I am a survivor! And, as a survivor, I will not forget what I learned from my horrendous battle of the beasts; I will not forget those that are still battling the “Lyme Wars”. I will continue to speak for the Lyme Warriors! We, after all, will always be somehow linked; we are part of a great big special family. (Those that continue to keep up the fight, you’re heroes.)
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” ~ Christopher Reeve
This new stage of discovery is exciting yet frightening at the same time. There are moments when I’m at work and a snapshot of my old self flashes in my head. I realize that the old me is still there; but, at the same time, I realize that the priorities in my life are so different now than they were in the past. I see a stronger, more appreciative me.
“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed.” ~ Booker T. Washington
This is only the beginning of this new stage of my life; I am looking forward to what it brings. While I know at the same time, if for some reason it falls through, I will not be any worse for wear. The one thing I know for sure; is, I will give it all my best!
“We will move forward, we will move upward, and yes, we will move onward.” ~ Dan Quayle
SIDEBAR: The Interview: That is, if you’d call it that. I just dropped by, among a few other places I had on my list to do, we sat down, chatted, he perused my resume’, small talk…then I heard: that’s it; I’m no longer running the ad. A bit dumbfounded, I sat there silent. “Are you willing to give it a try?” It took me a few seconds. Ah, yes, I said.
Then, I did what I told myself I wouldn’t do again. I told him about my whole Lyme Disease experience, my website, my distributing brochures and fliers to the schools and the big community health fair within the community. To my surprise, he was still willing to hire me. I mean, this is where, on the other interviews I had been on, I’d see that look. You know there is no way in heck I am hiring you. Or, the usual interlude where you hear, you aren’t reliable, yada yada yada. But, he was still willing to hire me, warts and all! Life never ceases to surprise me.
You know, what even surprised me more was that he took the time to watch Under Our Skin and learn more about Lyme Disease over the following weekend before I even started. Still, he was willing to hire me!
Other Related blogs by other bloggers that may interest you:
Life with Lyme (a science of working and living with Lyme)