For most of us, our introduction to the “real” world takes place in the playground.
The playground. The preliminary version of the “jungle” that the world is often portrayed as. The playground. Where we learn that not everybody has our best interests at heart as hopefully our parents did at that age.
We learn that other kids are “bigger,” “stronger,” more “aggressive,” etc. As a result, we are introduced to the concept of “comparisons.” We learn that other kids have “more” of what we want: Toys, abilities, (I can ride a two-wheeler. Can you?)
For many of us, there are least several areas where find ourselves on the short end.
Similarly, at school. There are always kids smarter, more attractive, more popular.
Then, there are the entertainment and athletic stars, whose assets often put our own to shame. (Try hitting a curve ball!)
A Polycystic Kidney Disease patients, we are not immune(!?) from making comparisons to those who are healthy. After all, we have been trained to do this, and making comparisons isn’t necessarily a bad thing. (How high in his/her class did your doctor graduate?)
Yet, when our disease limits us in our pursuit of our dreams, comparing our situation with those who are “healthy” (a relative term) we add an additional load to our burden. It’s bad enough to experience the limitations of our lives on their own terms. It’s not helpful to look at others and make ourselves feel worse by noticing what “they” can do and we can’t.
Each of us are unique individuals. Everybody has a superior and an inferior in every aspect of life. OK. You have a disease. You are not the only one. Most of us have walked through hospital wards. You see what goes on.
Consider this comparison: Someone may wish that “all” they had was PKD!
I had this personal revelation at my dialysis center when I saw the people with diabetes come in, remove their prosthetic leg, and got ready for dialysis. One woman was blind. Yeah. It shook me up.
I developed gratitude that “all” I had was PKD. Let me accept this burden, and carefully navigate MY “Odyssey,” and not worry about anyone else’s.
You are not alone. This 2009. Current medical practice is quite good (no, not perfect, but better than it was), and research is ongoing, and the future looks good.
Accept your situation, but don’t be resigned to it. Do what you need to do, and keep the dialog going so that there is no sense of isolation.
If I can be of service to you, please let me know by making a comment or contacting me at:
Peace and Blessings!
Coach Richie Perl
