There is a long story which is too lengthy to reproduce here about a family which experienced a series of events. Upon first “take,” each experience appeared to be “negative,” but later on, each so-called “negative” event was a “blessing in disguise.”

Now I’m not saying that being a PKD patient is a desirable state of affairs! Far from it!!! It’s not desirable at all!

As human beings, we have the capability of ascribing “meaning” and “significance” to the events in our lives.

For instance, have you ever experienced a romantic break-up? Never a pleasant experience. But what did the break-up mean to you? That your were a worthless person who would never experience love again? Or, after the emotional pain subsided, that you realized that you were at least worthy enough for that romance to have happened in the first place, and that if it happened before, it can happen again!

Same event, different meanings or “interpretations.”

What does having PKD mean to you? I suspect the meaning it has for you changes over time as you deal with the disease and your experience grows.

It may be that you interpreted the fact that you have PKD that you are “defective.”  You may have told yourself that you will never get married and have children. You may have thought that having PKD means that you will live a very limited life.

Or, after a period of time after which you have “absorbed” the fact that you have PKD. you may have perceived it as a life challenge to overcome and developed a high degree of motivation to do what is reasonably within your power to obtain and maintain the highest quality of life possible for you at any given stage.

Please understand that I’m talking about a “high-level” interpretation of what your PKD means to you.

There are days and there are days.

What I’m saying is that having a “high-level” meaning that having PKD is a life challenge that can lead to a very high degree of fulfillment will go a long way in helping “pull” you through the “rough patches.”

The interesting thing about determining “meaning” or “interpretation” is that it costs nothing to choose the “meaning” that will lead to the best life-style for you.

Yes. It takes some work.

But, doesn’t everything?

( I wonder what I meant by that?   )

Peace and Blessings!

Coach Richie Perl

Certified Professional Coach

Certified Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming