Stop the Clocks!

A huge cliché, probably one of the most heard…

“Life begins at 40!”

I’m nearly there, I’m sat on the eve of my 40th Birthday and to be honest I’m extremely pleased about this and I have some belief in that cliché that has been rammed down my throat.

I’ve always set myself goals in life, as soon as I moved into a sales environment it was drilled into you to do so. Since I was diagnosed with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) at the age of 23 I set myself a target and that was to still be able to walk unaided at the age of 40 because I was told that I would face major paralysis by the time I was 50 years old, so I have had to keep myself as fit as possible for as long as possible… this is something I’m still doing.

Michelle aka the walking stick!

Don’t get me wrong, things have changed and we need to make adjustments within our family, pushing off walls, using my ‘grabber’ (Like a litter picker) more often and using Michelle as my walking stick! 

I still have massive pains in my legs and shoulders but this is something I adjust too, it’s always there, it’s just how painful it becomes and how I deal with the pain. I have LGMD but it will never consume me, I won’t let it.

I’m chuffed with what I’m still able to do and I’m always going to push myself even more. The sense of achievement within me is fantastic and I need to show everyone that I’m not prepared to give up… on myself or anybody else.

 

I have been so humbled by recent messages and conversations that I’ve had with people about things that they are prepared to do to help the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign because of what I’ve done or said, I never saw this coming… you know who you are and I cannot thank you enough.

I would just like to say thanks (as always) to Michelle who’s there for me and continuously puts up with me, I always say it but some people would be nothing without the support network that they have around them.

So what am I to do then now I’ve reached 40 years old? I’ll tell you.

I shall keep on keeping on and I’ll carry on regardless of this condition and while I’m at it I’ll raise awareness and funds for families with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, this is constantly desideratum. After recent events like Remembrance Sunday and the ‘Children in Need’ appeal it makes you realise how much people give up for others and how humbling that can be. Some people are prepared to go to the ends of the earth to try to help, I think we could all learn some lessons from that and try (just a little) to consider others especially as we go into the festive season.

Band of Orange:Awareness

Sometimes you may think that times are hard and you may feel idle but nothing will change for the best if you’re just sat there not prepared to do a thing to help yourself or others… remember, nothing beautiful ever came from an easy life, nothing truly incredible came from times of ease and contentment.

So we can stop the clocks, I’m pleased to be here and I’m having lot’s of fun with many people doing things that I never thought I’d do with people I’d never thought I’d do them with. I’ll keep doing this, keep writing, keep attending parliament,  keep raising awareness, keep raising funds  and keep making my girls smile.

As for goals going forward, I have lots but I’ve always said I’ll walk my girls down the aisle should the time come… Let’s just see what happens shall we.

Keep pushing, keep smiling.

If you’re considering Christmas cards for family and friends then please take at look at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaigns collection http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/shop/christmas_cards Thank you!