Anyway, here's what I have of "my story":
I have the most wonderful family and friends a girl could dream of and for most of my 22 years, I've gone through life taking it as it comes. Unfortunately, that means taking most of what I have for granted. Over the past few years though, I've begun to realize this and have adopted a new life motto, to help me make sure that I don't take my next 22 years for granted.
The summer before I left for college, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It was scary because I was moving halfway across the country, away from all my family, friends, and life as I knew it. It was scary because it was a neurological disorder and that never sounds good. It was scary because I didn't know what would happen next.... It was hard on me, but harder on my family and friends. As they sat there telling me, through tears, that they were praying for me and wishing they could take away all my pain and fears, I just asked them to pray for me to be brave. I knew, that nothing could take this away, but I also knew that it was happening for a reason and that I could get through it if I could just learn to be brave.
Well, here I am 3 years later, and I'm not through it, I never will be. And, while it could have been worse in almost any situation, I probably could have been braver. But, I think I was pretty brave and I learned a hell of a lot along the way. Being diagnosed with MS isn't something I would trade for the world. My 18-year-old super dramatic self thought my world was ending. Little did I know, it was just beginning. Through my diagnosis and my dramatic "my world is crashing down" thoughts, I realized how great my life was and still is today. I realized that I have more love in my life than many could even dream about and I realized that life is about living. So MS or not, I decided I'm going to live, and I'm going to be brave doing it.
If I'm going to really live though, I don't just need to be brave during a diagnosis, I need to be brave and take a leap of faith, big or small, every single day. I needed to be brave when I left Colorado and headed to Chicago to go to college. I couldn't love it anymore than I do. I needed to be brave when I joined a sorority, something I never saw myself doing, but I've made friendships and found passions to last a lifetime. I needed to be brave to be a Camp Kesem counselor for the most magical week of my year. I needed to be brave when I left everything familiar to go to Spain, a country where NOTHING was familiar for 4 months. It was hands down, the most incredible 4 months of my life and the best decision I ever made. Sometimes I need to be brave and make myself say hi to that cute guy, or stand up for what I believe in. Everyday, I need to be brave and make this life the best it can be.
Here's to all my brave adventures, and mostly to yours.
