As you progress in life, always remember the mantra: “And This Too Shall Pass.”

This is something to think about and remember in all things. When life is going well, enjoy it, bask in it, capture it, because it is temporary. When life goes sour, feel it, grow from it, and then let it go…because it is temporary.

Life moves at its own pace, not yours. While that may sound scary to think about right now, it can be liberating. That is one less thing for you to focus on or feel like you need to control. Life happens, and the less you try to control it, the more you will be able to enjoy it and capture the moments within it.

Don’t take anything for granted.

Enjoy the fact that you can walk, run, and ride your bike for miles without feeling sore or getting winded.

Capture the memories of the days when you get to travel with the kids to sporting events and stay all day without joint aches and headaches.

Don’t take for granted the times when you can travel.

Cherish the fact that your body works the way you intend it to.

Don’t focus on little things like losing five extra pounds or waiting on a hairstyle to grow out before you can feel beautiful.

Don’t rush the future by bringing it into today with worry and anxiety.

I promise you — the time will pass and each day you will be able to handle what that day brings, but what you will not be able to do is reclaim this time.

When you no longer have control over how your body functions and when that five pounds that is easy to lose becomes 50 pounds — you will wish you wore the bathing suit.

When your body aches from walking up the stairs, you will realize that you GET to work out, and it is a privilege.

When the future comes and brings with it the things that are outside of your control, you will wish you relished each day in its fullness.

Remember that no matter what—you can rebound. Focus on what matters, which is what is within you, and remember to breathe and say, “this too shall pass.”

Tiffany L.

Tiffany L.

"Focus on What Matters"

Tiffany L. lives with FSGS.