KEEP YOUR DREAMS

KEEP YOUR DREAMS NO MATTER WHAT

Sometimes it's difficult to tap into our reserves,
and fly like an eagle when we feel more like a caged bird with clipped wings. Life events, or stressors, can bring us to a place where it feels hopeless to continue, and we may give up all faith for a positive outcome for anything in our lives. This is when it's most important to have faith, and work towards our goals.

My sixteen year old daughter is fighting a battle with cancer. She meets her challenges daily while writing a book about her experiences, or letting everything go in her journal. Having a goal, or a vision, helps her to meet the daily battles she must face.

Both of us have our separate dreams, or visions of the future, that seem to be thwarted at every turn. Perseverance, strength, courage, and a will to continue give us the daily motivation we need.

During the end of her prior battle with this disease she was unable to meet her obligations at school, and had to leave. The demands of treatment made it impossible for her to attend, or apply herself to schoolwork.

She entered remission after that fight, and during that time enrolled in a college program to obtain her General Equivalency Diploma. She "graduated" in the ninety-fifth percentile, after four months of study, and received high marks on her graduating exams.

She then started college, studying journalism, writing, and foreign language, while simultaneously having follow-up visits for after-care, and physical therapy for the damage to her leg that one of her tumors caused. Her indomitable spirit serves as an inspiration to me
on a daily basis. This is her life, and mine has been enriched with her presence.

Now, she's almost seventeen, and facing this battle once again. Every day, she shares her fears with me, about how rapidly it's growing, and sometimes it's very difficult for me to bear. But, my own journal and writing work gives me a focus and outlet; and so does the support of my friends and colleagues.

There is no battle too difficult, no hill too high to climb, as long as we remember we never have to do anything alone. Having dreams, goals, and visions of a positive future can carry us through the daily moments of difficulty, if we let them. Sometimes we need to get out of our own way, and let things happen. There are other times we need to make things happen.

Knowing what we have to accept, or what we can change, can be very difficult when your life is hanging on the line. And yet, my daughter manages to do this daily. Having a focus other than the primary stressor in your life is crucial to personal success of any personal battle.

Kristie Kusch
Copyright 1999
globewrite@aol.com