Living Beyond the Diagnosis

In April 2022, something happened that changed my life forever. At the Inman Connect conference in New York City, I began to feel sick. This wasn’t just any sickness. It was something unreal, something evil. It turned out to be Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare degenerative neurological disease that doesn’t have a cure and usually comes with a five-year life expectancy.

Imagine dealing with such a tough diagnosis, then have things get even worse. (1) While I was on leave, trying to deal with this illness, my company let me go. This wasn’t just about losing a job. (2) I lost my health benefits, which I really needed to pay for my treatments.

It’s like one bad thing after another. Next, (3) the company took back a million shares of stock they had given me as part of my employment package (granted, it had nose-dived to less than a penny a share, but still … principle). Now to add to that, (4) I received a request from ATT, asking me to pay $1,250 for the company cell phone I was using that they refused to pay for. Leaving ATT to threaten to affect my credit report if I don’t make good on it! So, of course, I will pay it. All this happened while I was dealing with the huge stress of knowing I’ve got a terminal illness.

For anyone, knowing you have a disease that’s going to take your life is scary and stressful. But having to deal with such decisions by your (former) employer at the same time? That’s a whole other level of stress.

Now, here’s the lesson to be learned – even with all this stuff going wrong, I’m staying positive. I believe that keeping a good attitude is important. I’m hoping that maybe an experimental treatment could help me and so many others suffering from MSA, and I want to be in the best possible mindset for that.

This story isn’t just a sad one. It’s a real look at how tough life can be, especially when you’re sick and the people you depend on, like your employer, make things harder. It shows how important it is to stay strong, even when it feels like everything is going against you. The decision to stay positive, even in such a hard time, can be empowering. It’s a reminder to all of us about the power of hope and staying strong, no matter what life throws at us.

Life often presents challenges that seem insurmountable, throwing curveballs that can shake our very foundations. In these moments, when it feels like everything is going against you, the importance of staying strong becomes paramount. It’s not just about enduring the hardships, but about finding a way to rise above them. Strength in adversity isn’t just about physical resilience; it’s about mental and emotional fortitude. It’s about facing each day with determination, even when the path ahead seems clouded with uncertainty. Hopefully this kind of strength becomes a beacon for others, showing that it’s possible to confront life’s toughest challenges without losing ourselves in the process.

Choosing to stay positive during hard times is more than just an act of perseverance; it’s a profound source of inspiration. It’s easy to be optimistic when things are going well, but true positivity shines brightest in the darkest of times. This decision to remain hopeful, to look for the silver lining even when skies are grey, leads to true resilience. It’s a reminder that our attitude plays a critical role in how we navigate life’s storms. By staying positive, we not only empower ourselves to face hardships head-on, but hopefully inspire those around us. With luck, this positivity becomes contagious, spreading hope and strength to others facing their own battles.

The power of hope in challenging times cannot be overstated. Hope is the quiet voice at the back of our mind that says, “Keep going, you’re stronger than you think.” It’s what keeps us moving forward when everything else is pushing us back. Hope is a fundamental human strength, an inner resource that fuels persistence and resilience. In the face of adversity, hope reminds us of the potential for better days ahead. It encourages us to stay strong, to believe in ourselves, and to remember that no matter what life throws at us, we have the inner power to persevere and overcome. This enduring spirit of hope and strength is a testament to the human capacity to triumph over life’s challenges.

If I can do it, so can you! Be #Unbreakable

~Coach~