Living Life to the Fullest: What Keeps You Going?

I often remind myself that I will live my life to the fullest and not let chronic illness get to me. I understand that many people with chronic illness feel like their diseases have robbed them of so much and that they cannot possibility imagine truly living life to the fullest. I guess the answer of how to do that really depends on your personal definition of “full.” I understand that many of us have had to give up things we once enjoyed doing to accommodate chronic illness in our lives but each of us knows that finding purpose and meaning to life is possible even if you are sick.

In other words, just because you struggle with chronic illness doesn’t mean your life is over. For me, living life to the fullest means: having happy relationships, reaching out to others with hope and inspiration, keeping my mind active, going out and having fun, and making time to be with the people I love.

Our chronic illnesses are never going to go away and they will follow us everywhere we go but we have the option to not let them dictate our lives and to keep us from enjoying all life has to offer. I personally believe that if chronic illness stops me from doing one thing, I can still find something else to do.

Take the time to forget about all you have lost and grieved, what keeps you going? What allows you to continue to make an effort to live your life to the fullest?