Читать книгу Above and Beyond - J.S. Dorian - Страница 18

“To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.”

SAMUEL JOHNSON

When we first try a support group, many of us are restrained, skeptical, and cynical. Before we even walk through the door into our first meeting, we take the close-minded view that these people can’t possibly help us, because our circumstances are entirely different than theirs.

But then, sometimes within minutes, reluctance gives way to relief; we feel completely at home. As the weeks pass, we benefit in ways we could not have imagined, and our enthusiasm grows.

We soon realize that our case is not different at all, and that we can indeed learn a lot from others with the same illness. How comforting it is to calmly compare and discuss symptoms, options, doctors, and treatments. How freeing it is to dispel myths and acquire new tools for living and coping.

Week after week we are infused with new life as we see others resolving their problems and achieving their goals. Along the way, we receive encouragement and support for our own progress. In no time at all, it seems, our skepticism has given way to loyalty and commitment.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

There is much I can gain and much I can give.