Our Time Is Limited, but Our Choices Can Last More Than a Lifetime
Last weekend, I watched three really good movies: “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “A Journal For Jordan,” and “Avengers: Endgame.” They had great directing, acting, and life lessons, and each conveyed major themes about choice and time.
On Nov. 9, 2015, I underwent transsphenoidal surgery that lasted about five hours. Since that procedure, I have paid more attention in my life to the value of time. Before that, I never paid much attention to how important time was, but when faced with the possibility that there might not be any left for me, I was more deeply affected than I would have guessed.
During my rehab and recovery, one of the hardest things to realize was that my life would be different in the future. I was beginning a new chapter in my life that I hadn’t anticipated. I struggled to accept this fact and clung to a wish for my old self, my old life.
I remember, though, that the closer I got to the day of my surgery, I began to ask myself what I had done with that old life up to that point. I hadn’t left a legacy. If I didn’t survive, my wife would be alone. I hadn’t been able to show my parents that I had achieved anything important.
I see now that all the things that I thought had been so important to me are not that important. My priorities have shifted. This experience has changed my perspective.
Time is valuable, and we can’t get back the time we’ve already lived. But we can decide what to do with the time we have available to us. The second chances we get aren’t always what we expect, or what we want them to be. I embrace this chapter of my life and what is to come. Cushing’s disease is not who I am, but it is a part of my life and an experience I’ve had, and I am learning to treat it that way as I go forward.
I am in control about how I move forward and the progress I make. The word “life” in lifestyle has such a different meaning to me than it did before. The decisions I make are more impactful to me, and I realize those decisions affect the people around me.
We should never feel ashamed, or give up if we find ourselves struggling with our new life. We must learn, adapt to it, and embrace it. We must always remember our uniqueness. Some of us are given second opportunities, and some are given new life.
What do you want to do with yours? Please share in the comments below.
Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.
Comments