The Things We Take for Granted

I will be frank. There are many things that I take for granted. Prior to April 20, 2021, my vision was one of those things that I took for granted. I have always been fortunate to have excellent vision. I always figured that I would eventually need to wear glasses like the other members of my family, but I never for a second thought that I could almost completely lose the vision in one eye over the course of less than two days. The experience was downright terrifying.

This has me thinking about all of the things that I take for granted: the ability to walk; the ability to talk; the ability to control my bladder; living without pain. Life with MS means never taking these things for granted again. My next relapse may rob me of a faculty that I have always taken for granted. It is truly humbling to live with this reality.

I have never been more grateful for the 20/20 vision in my right eye. I have also never been more fearful of something happening that could take that vision away.

The first lesson that MS has taught me is to be grateful for what I have and to take nothing for granted. I can walk today, and I may not be able to walk at some point in the future, so I need to appreciate that ability now. I am sure that MS will teach me many lessons in our journey through this life together, but this is the first of those lessons. I think that it is an important lesson and one that we all can benefit from in this life - appreciate the things you have before they turn into the things you once had.

A #sweatieselfie after a 5.5 mile (8.9km) run. Running may not always be in the cards for me, but I am learning to appreciate the abilities that I have long taken for granted while I still have them. I used to run for the challenge of it and for fitness, but increasingly my new mindset is that I run because I can.