Life Day # 8

Today is my Life Day. 8 years at 11am I was unconscious in an ambulance being taken to a hospital. Waking up nearly 2 hours later to my husband at the foot of my bed with his head in his hands. Not knowing where I was or why. We didn't even have those answers for about a week after. The answers were not good. Not the worst news one could hear but it was something I would have to be reminded of twice daily for the rest of my life. I had a long time of living in darkness before I finally realized I was given the gift of life not a death sentence. So what has 8 years given me? A new life - period. I am not the same. What does not kill us makes us stronger and my disease even though not wanted has made me stronger. I have watched my children grow. Grow into amazing human beings. Full of grace, love, compassion, humor and joy. I can't even fathom leaving the earth that day and not watching them grow. I've had 8 more years with my husband. I have learned that not everybody deserves to be in my life. That I can love them with boundaries or let people go completely. Life is too short for drama, for lies, for anything toxic. I have learned that family can be who you pick. I have learned that people will judge me for having a seizure. I use to be scared to talk about it for "the look". Guess what, I can take medicine to fix my brainwaves. What can these people take to fix their judgement of me? My disease has made me brave enough to share to help others like me who feel alone. To try to normalize a disease that touches 1 in 26. I have had some moments over the last 8 years that did scare me. Now with skills I have learned and faith to calm me I can get through it better. Now instead of fear of dying. I have a fear of not living. Go play with your kids, hike, travel, laugh, hug, drive, run, forgive, be happy, find your calling, whatever. Do it all - Live it all. Life is a gift. Treat it as one. You don't have to almost lose your life to learn this like I did. You can just learn from me and others like me.