Blessing In Disguise: What does it mean to have gloriousopportunities? ...

Blessing In Disguise: What does it mean to have gloriousopportunities? ...: What does it mean to have glorious opportunities? Yes, you did attend one of the best universities in America and receive a wonderful e...

What does it mean to have glorious opportunities? Yes, you did attend one of the best universities in America and receive a wonderful education. Having landed a top job at a top-notch law firm, you are definitely on your way up. What else did you achieve? You married the woman of your dreams from your alma mater and are a parent of three wonderful boys. As fate would have it, you like taking chances, so you bought a raffle ticket and hit a multimillion dollar jackpot. What more enhances your life of dreams? You are a well-known motivational speaking with engagements in many American cities. Having met challenges with stunning success, you have come to the conclusion that you have been blessed with God-given opportunities and now your dress, demeanor and speeches say it all.

Turned Upside Down

Sometimes a misfortune has a funny way of changing a life. For reasons that you least expect, you have been diagnosed with dementia. You are now like the British retired General Practitioner, Dr. Jennifer Bute that has been hit with this same disease. In “Dementia – A Glorious Opportunity” by Kreativity on Vimeo April 26, 2011, Dr. Bute tells of her remarkable years as a GP and all the amazing things that she did for her patients. Now she talks about her disability, not with discontentment, but sees this affliction with pride and a glorious opportunity from God. Will you Joe, be like Dr. Bute?

Just imagine, your dreams, plans, fortune have all been wrecked. Everything is thrown into disorder. You have found yourself in the midst of confusion, the whole of life's landscape has been re-arranged and transformed. Is this is a dilemma or not? Has your life been turned inside out? Initially, everything seems as though they have been changed for the worse. Some of your friends seem not to understand your misfortune, or is this affliction really a misfortune? A few insensitive ones mock and dishonor you, while others are eager to embrace you in your grief. These are some of your neighbors and friends while you were flourishing and doing so well. You have been a role model in your community and church.

There is by Six Cycle Mind, a Filipino band of fusion of alternative music and pop that sings a song about this phenomenon called having one's world turned “Upside Down.” The band released two albums by Shine (2003) and Panorama (2005). Joe's situation may well be likened to a person that now has to do metaphorical handstands, headstands, shoulder-stands and somersaults with his life. For he has to contemplate a life change like that of Dr. Bute, to cope with the new person he has become.

Missed Your Chance?

Some may think about Joe as missing the chance of a life time. You yourself may experience emptiness at times from a disease. But is it not right to see that when one door closes another opens? It is American essayist, philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) that says, “For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.” Viewing this situation as gain and not as failure will put the gain in your life. Why not be like Dr. Bute?

See life as having a new quality. Imagine a new way of thinking and coping. It is like starting over from scratch but that is okay too. Strange as it may seem, dementia is Joe's new blessing in disguise. He must realize that he is in it for the long haul. It is good for him to reflect on the new, for God sees all of us, afflicted and non-afflicted alike as complete human beings. Like Joe, you will have to consider yourself as still being a valuable member of society. In life, we have to be calm and confident in the face of trials and tribulations.

Quality Of Life

Living with dementia and promoting your general well being is paramount. Become physical, let a friend accompany you for walks and live in a life-affirming community. As much as possible challenge yourself in new ways. Monitor your ability to read. If you can no longer, find someone to read to you. Be sure to gear all activities to the growth and development of your emotional, physical and mental well being. As the disease progresses make sure that your financial and social aspects of your life are in order and taken care of. It is American author, salesman and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar (1926 – 2012) that points out, “Fact: If standard of living is your number one objective, quality of life almost never improves. But if quality of life is your number one objective, standard of living invariably improves.” As a person afflicted with dementia your quality of life like that of all other Americans will improve your standard of living also because it will be your focus and priority.