Strength Unknown

It still amazes me how there are some people we have known for years that never even knew Greg was ever sick, let alone had a double lung transplant. A neighbor and I were talking earlier this week and I had mentioned how we are going on an overseas vacation. During this conversation, I made a statement about the amount of medications Greg will need to bring with him and pass through customs. She was shocked to learn that my wonderful husband had a double lung transplant just 2.5 years ago and that he was born with a terminal illness called Cystic Fibrosis. She was well aware of the disease and it was just amazing to watch her face as I went through the details of his health as though it was nothing.

No, it is not "nothing". It is just that I have gone through the conversation so many times that it is second nature to me. I had become numb from the disease years ago, however, I am still amazed by the power and spiritual strength my husband wields on a daily basis. It seems that this strength was unknown to this neighbor and just the look in her eyes showed me that this conversation, in some small way, truly brightened her day.

Practice Being Like a Child

Remember the master teacher once said 2000 years ago,"Unless you can become like little children, your chances are zero; you haven't got a prayer." A major consideration for adults.

Be like children and remember there are four ways to be more like a child no matter how old you get...

1) Curiosity - Be curious; childish curiosity. Learn to be curious like a child. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You're right. They will bug you.

Kids can ask a million questions. You think they're through. They've got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.

Also kids use their curiosity to learn. Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child's curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn and grow.

2) Excitement - Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement. So excited you hate to go to bed at night. Can't wait to get up in the morning. So excited that you're about to explode. How can anyone resist that kind of childish magic?

Now, once in awhile I meet someone who says, "Well, I'm a little too mature for all that childish excitement." Isn't that pitiful? You've got to weep for these kinds of people. All I've got to say is, "If you're too old to get excited, you're old." Don't get that old.

3) Faith - Faith like a child. Faith is childish. How else would you describe it? Some people say, "Let's be adult about it." Oh no. No. Adults too often have a tendency to be overly skeptical. Some adults even have a tendency to be cynical.

Adults say, "Yeah. I've heard that old positive line before. It will be a long day in June before I fall for that positive line. You've got to prove to me it's any good." See, that's adult, but kids aren't that way. Kids think you can get anything. They are really funny. You tell kids,
"We're going to have three swimming pools." And they say, "Yeah. Three. One each. Stay out of my swimming pool."

See, they start dividing them up right away, but adults are not like that. Adults say, "Three swimming pools? You're out of your mind. Most people don't even have one swimming pool. You'll be lucky to get a tub in the back yard." You notice the difference? No wonder the master teacher said, "Unless you can become like little children, your chances, they're skinny."

4) Trust - Trust is a childish virtue, but it has great merit. Have you heard the expression "sleep like a baby?" That's it. Childish trust. After you've gotten an A+ for the day, leave it in somebody else's hands.

Curiosity, excitement, faith and trust. Wow, what a powerful combination to bring (back) into our lives.

Are you afraid to be different?

On the path of evolution, we move from being a willing and obedient member of the group to wanting to take control over our own lives. This is a necessary but difficult transition.

Andrew Schneider says, "At this point we are afraid of being ourselves. We are afraid of being unique and different. We are afraid of being individually powerful, and even successful. For all of these things stand against the old ways that told us that conformity was right and individualism was wrong."

"For as long as we possibly can, we make a compromise. We try to live both lives - the dependent tribal life and the independent personal life - as contradictory and opposite as they are."

"We want approval from others. We want to be accepted and popular. We seek this comfort to overcome our fear and feel more secure. ...So, at times when we conform, we don’t feel the fear of living. But we might lose the new sense of adventure, discovery, daring and enthusiasm for life that the questioning and questing have brought us."

"Nature never repeats herself, and the possibilities of one human soul will never be found in another."

-- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Essence of Attitude

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates the extraordinary.

May is National CF Awareness Month

May is National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month...

...and CF awareness starts with YOU The CF Foundation needs your help to educate your elected officials about cystic fibrosis in just a few simple steps—let them know how they can help us add tomorrows every day.

The Congressional Cystic Fibrosis Caucus, co-chaired by Congressmen Edward Markey (D-MA) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL), is sponsoring a Congressional resolution recognizing May as National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Click here to read Reps. Markey and Stearns letter to House members.

TELL your story and ASK your Congress member to support the CF Awareness Resolution. Click here to read the resolution.

Three Action Steps to Tell the Story of CF:

Write, e-mail or telephone your representative asking that he/she co-sponsor House Concurrent Resolution 85 (H. Con. Res. 85) recognizing May 2007 as National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Here’s how:

1. Identify Your Representative
   To learn who represents you in Congress, go to www.house.gov.
2. Contact Your Representative in DC or at Home.
   First, click here to see if your representative is a member of the CF Caucus.
   By E-mailUse a sample letter to ask your member to support Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Be sure to add your personal story about CF.
   Use this letter if your representative IS a member of the CF caucus.Use this letter if your representative IS NOT a member of the CF caucus.Use this letter if your representative is Ed Markey or Cliff Stearns, the co-chairs of the Congressional CF Caucus.
   By TelephoneUse this suggested phone script to call your representative's office.
3. Keep Us Posted
   Please let the Public Policy Department know what action you have taken. This step is vital in producing a successful advocacy campaign. Simply fill out and e-mail us this short form so we can document your communications.
   

For further information, call the CF Foundation Public Policy Department at 1-800-FIGHT CF (344-4823)

Crossposted from: http://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/Advocate/index.cfm