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Submitted by DSN on 2 January 2019

Thirty five year old Deepthi Sudhir Nair, a person with Myasthenia Gravis, rings in 2017 with five heartfelt pointers that can help transform lives and bring in greater happiness, positivity and self-respect in the New Year.

Before I bury my reminiscences of 2016, I want to thank it for making me a chronically ill patient (through myasthenia gravis, urticaria, bronchial asthma, migraines and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures) and taking away my freedom. At the same time, teaching me what life is all about and, most importantly, what is the right way to value and live my life!

After spending eight odd months of 2016 in the hospital, getting umpteen number of tests ending with swollen needle marks throughout my body, battling to get a diagnosis, getting 30 bottles of plasmas infused in my blood to relax the flares of Myasthenia Gravis, getting back my life slipping out of my hands, hurting, bleeding and humiliating myself with psychotic non epileptic seizures (PNES), whining about being disabled and being dependent on others, proving how sick I was to those who could not understand my invisible disability, feeling jealous of other’s freedom…and, thereafter, entering the positive world of colours, writing, self-healing, etc...Now, finally, I have come to realise that I HAVE NO TIME TO WASTE!!!!

My life has changed with these chronic incurable ailments and I really can't rewind it or wipe it off. My body doesn’t really care whether I like it or not, but it has taught me not to wait for a tomorrow. It has taught me CARPE DIEM!!! SEIZE THE DAY!!!!!

Honestly, it’s now I realise that God has given me a second chance to live again. So, now I am determined to MAKE IT BIG!

Being a Myasthenic, I am now very well aware of my limitations and stock of energy. So listed below are my plans for having a meaningful 2017. I don’t want to plan for life. Let's just go step by step!

So, my first step to live a fulfilling 2017 is Prioritisation!

Setting priorities will help in utilizing my limited energy on really important matters like my kids, their studies, things I love to do to keep my morale high, etc. So I quit my compulsive urge to be everything for everyone.

Next was accepting my body!

Having a positive body image was very much required to love and respect myself! Being fat and not being able to excercise, having a moon face gifted by the steroids and looking twice my age... really the worst possible thing that could happen to me! No doubt I would like to go back to size M from XXL. But as on date I am going to focus only on the way I am today, on how I can enjoy all the wonderful things that are still left with me! I am done wasting my time whining about what or how I was!

Thirdly, Putting an end to inconsequential relationship

I have started putting my efforts to weed out unwanted namesake relationships and friendships! What would be left may be just a handful, but I am sure they would the most amazing people who are meaningful or supportive...whom I would treasure!

Fourthly, Living each moment mindfully

Now I firmly believe that I don’t have to be busy all the while to prove my worth or to have a meaningful life! I am learning the art of staying still, breathing easy, living each moment mindfully, enjoying silence and solitude! No more scheduling every minute of my life. Just focussing and practicing to enjoy each moment as it comes. I now aim to sincerely and deeply be grateful for any life experience that comes my way, be it in any form, whether a medication or a treatment or day chilling with my family. Being grateful for all that God had granted me!

Fifthly, Believe in the Almighty

Now I plan to just let go, laugh more, forgive myself and most importantly to BELIEVE in God, myself and miracles! I know that without the Almighty I am nothing and with his grace and the blessings and best wishes of my loved ones there’s nothing unachievable for me! This fifth point has helped in loosening the chains on my life helping me to move ahead taking tiny whiny steps!

With the above five pointers we can transform our life into a realisation of loving and being loved; of clearly understanding and acknowledging the fact that no matter how sick and disabled, we are still are precious, beautiful, gifted and valuable to many. Mark my words, there are many who are happy to have you alive with them! Because they draw strength from you!

So, all my dear friends sailing in similar boats like me, please remind yourself that we are a lot more than how we look and what we do. Our work and our worth are totally distinct.

So let's begin this new year on a note of happiness, positivity and self respect!

More by Deepthi: They cannot understand from which angle I am disabled 

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