It's all a matter of balance, Yin and Yang (陰陽)...
I started writing a little more than four years ago as a counter-reaction to the progression of ALS. I found the intense concentration, control and energy derived through the writing process to be therapeutic and absolutely contrary to the loss that the disease was bringing to my life. I've written about this several times before, but I believe that the reaction was physically, emotionally and spiritually real. It evolved as a natural duality, as simple and complex as light and dark, fire and water, life and death. My newly found skills applying the written word are a perfect example of the ancient Chinese concept of yin-yang—opposite forces are interconnected and give rise to each other.
The natural explanation makes sense to me, but the spiritual explanation also exists. The ignition of this new passion and purpose is a gift from God, the Great Spirit and Mother Nature. There is no dichotomy. They sit side-by-side in my mind without effort. The expansion of my imagination and the ability to place these thoughts and ideas on to a blank laptop screen so that I can share them with others, was, and still is, complementary to the frozen condition of my physical self. Together, these two realities form a dynamic system, a new whole which is greater than the parts that existed before. They exist together in a positive space, and bring meaning to each other. I do not view myself as a handicapped person, but I am different. I'm something more than I was before ALS came into my life. I believe that this new state of being is a gift from God, the Universal Spirit of all things. I'm grateful for this gift that I have received.
On a much lighter note, this blog received 672 page views last month! Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement. Please help me to broaden my readership by sending this link to your friends.
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