In this section, EDSers share what inspires them to continue to press on and stay positive, despite daily challenges.
To share your inspiration, please contact us with your story.
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10 Great Songs to remind you that “You are Beautiful – just the way you are!”
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Overcoming Your Regrets & Shattered Dreams
From time to time, I find myself throwing a pity party. The constant ups and downs of EDS are challenging to deal with. Sometimes I mourn “what could’ve been” or wonder if my present could be better if I had made different choices. Not that I have made any grave mistakes in my life, but many key decisions alter the course of your life. For example, would my life be better today if I had not “pushed through the pain” from my office job for so many years? Would I have not injured my joints so severely? What if I had not participated in sports or physical work as a child and teen? What if I could afford to have someone clean my house and help with strenuous physical tasks? Would my joints be quite as bad? Might I be able to do some of these tasks for myself today? Would I have more “good days”?
We all have times when we wonder “what if”… It was one of those times when I stumbled across this article. It is about regrets… I believe the same premise applies to the “shattered dreams” that so many EDSers encounter and rehash on a day-to-day basis.
Leaving the City of Regret
by: Larry Harp, Heartwarmers4u
I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I’m talking about my annual “Guilt Trip.”
I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town.
As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year’s most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn’t going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there.
First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have and Could Have. Then came the I Had family. You probably know ol’ Wish and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost. The biggest family would be the Yesterday’s. There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share.
Then Shattered Dreams would surely make and appearance. And It’s Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don’t Blame Me and I Couldn’t Help It.
Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent “pity party” could be cancelled by ME! I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn’t have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN’T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I’ve made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them.
So, if you’re planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbors, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very helpful. By the way, you don’t have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. God bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it — it’s in your own heart — please look me up. I live on I Can Do It street.
Larry Harp was a minister with a passion for poetry. He lives in Bedford, TX.
His present disability has given him time to work on his forthcoming book, “The One Thing I Do.”
So, I am reminded once again that lamenting the past doesn’t change anything. What is done is done. It is okay to visit the past with the intention of learning from my experiences. But thinking about the past and wishing it was different, only produces regret and sadness. The only person that hurts is me.
I found a technique that works for me when I start feeling like throwing a pity party. First, I think about all the things that I am thankful for… Things that I DO have and things that I CAN do. Then I keep my eyes open & look for someone who is having a worse time than I am and I offer to help them. Maybe it is just lending a listening ear to a friend or sharing some helpful information I have learned. It doesn’t always have to expend much physical energy, especially if I’m in a lot of pain at the time. Caring about someone else gets my mind off of my own troubles, and also helps give me a better perspective on my situation. It helps me to feel valued and significant to know that I have improved the life of someone else.
The next time you find yourself carrying a lot of mental baggage and heading down the wrong road… STOP, Regroup, make a U-turn and begin an earnest search for I Can Do It street.
Gentle Hugs to all EDSers!
EDS Awareness Team
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Behind a Smile
Do you ever wonder what people are feeling when they smile?
Do they smile because they’re happy or do they smile because they want people to believe they’re happy?
Maybe they smile because they want you to smile and be happy.
A smile can touch a person’s life in ways you can never imagine. It’s infectious and can cause a chain reaction. It can be memorable to someone you pass on the street or the mall or driving… and it only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet… to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime.
Maybe I should smile more often.
(Delilah B, Source Unknown)
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You, My Friend
You make me smile
You make me cry
You make my life worth living
You give me strength
You give me hope
You stop my crumbling world
With the sound of your voice
You give me faith
You give me joy
You brighten my darkened world
With the light in your eyes
I am forever grateful to you
Thank you for being
My most treasured friend.
(Author Unknown, Source Unknown)
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