A-Z promising quotes: Zest

Multiple sclerosis gives a person pause … and a definite cause for concern. Just this morning, I was zipping through a couple of discussion threads in an MS group on a popular social networking site and found a few folks expressing their worries about possible future MS symptoms they might one day face.

“What if I can no longer walk in 5, 10, or 20 years?” one person asked.

“I dread the possibility of losing my vision,” said another.

“Will I need a wheelchair someday?” a third posted.

Clearly, no one knows the answers to these questions. Even the top neurological experts have no clue what path MS will take in any individual from day to day, month to month, or year to year.

But that’s sort of the mystery of MS.

And it might just be the key to what makes so many MSers such a curious and intriguing and spunky and zesty and (Dare I say it?) inspiring lot. Those who choose to fight simply stand their ground (even if they are sitting down) and make the most of every single day that they can.

I wanna be like that. I want zest, even with MS.

I’d like to adopt this thought-provoking quotation from British author J.R.R. Tolkein (1892-1973), perhaps best known for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings:

“The future, good or ill, was not forgotten, but ceased to have any power over the present. Health and hope grew strong in them, and they were content with each good day as it came, taking pleasure in every meal, and in every word and song.”

That sounds almost like a benediction, doesn’t it?

May health and hope grow strong in all of us, so that we can be content with each good day and take pleasure in the blessings that come. Maybe such an attitude can make the less-than-good or totally terrible MS days more bearable as well.

Image/s:

Created by this user

with public domain artwork

Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter.