It’s hard to fight the urge to focus on all the things I cannot do, but I wish I could. It’s embarrassing that I focus on how frustrating these things are, instead of how lucky I am for all the things I can do. It’s particularly embarrassing when I hear stories about people like this amazing girl who is autistic, and still manages to live her life and accomplish amazing things. This girl, Carly, wasn’t able to communicate until she was 11 years old. I can only imagine that frustration.

I can communicate. I have many gifts at my disposal to communicate in many different ways. This is something to be incredibly thankful for, and I wish I didn’t sometimes slip into self pity and forget how amazing that really is. Writing is my favorite thing, it’s what I want to do most, and I can do it. Why focus on what I can’t do?

In an earlier post about Flannery O’Connor (a writer who had I had much in common with including being chronically ill) I included a quote I’ve kept on my desktop for a few years now to help remind myself of all of this.

“I am making out fine in spite of any conflicting stories…I have enough energy to write with and as that is all I have any business doing anyhow, I can with one eye squinted take it all as a blessing. What you have to measure out, you come to observe more closely, or so I tell myself.” – Flannery O’Connor