Give.

Up.

I could give up. 

Say “fuck it!” My life is over. I have done what I am supposed to do.

Eat healthy. 

Drink lots of water.

Walk.

Sleep well.

I could give up doing my meditation…

Now every time I think, a bomb always blows up in my head. Many things happen in my body and for my mental state it’s really bad. I have to focus on one thing. 

I could give up reading...

Our brain is like a muscle. If I don’t read or do my homework… WOW! Sometimes I can’t read and my body really hurts.

I could stop posting on Facebook...

I could.

A lot of my mentors, doctors and teachers talk, write and give me wisdom. Clearly I’m not there yet but they shed a lot of knowledge. I want to do something constructive and it is part of my homework and I honestly want to share it with you. 

I could give up taking my pills…

(shake my head from side to side)

I won’t lie...

The last time I had a seizure…

10% of me was crying because it happened again, I was on the floor, I couldn’t move and when I called 9-1-1 it took me a long time to say my name and my address.

But…

5% of me was trying to move and be relentless. I couldn’t move but the lady from 9-1-1 calmed me down and said the ambulance is on the way.  

85% of me was you, my students, patients in the hospital and my mom.

You…

I’m blessed that I can think and write (type) for people like you. When I was in the hospital from my stroke, I couldn’t think or write and that was extremely hard. You living your life makes me appreciate everything. You have success and failures and want to keep on going in life… THANK YOU!!!

My students…

A lot of times when I think that they come up to the finish line and I want to give them a hug and say “Man! It’s been a wild, amazing and great journey.” But they want to keep on going. Really?! THANK YOU!!!

Patients in the hospital…

When I see patients who are disheartened and depressed but listen and learn from the doctors and want to keep on going and live life... THANK YOU!!! 

My mom…

It’s crazy. We had a lot of families who took care of us. But seeing my mom who was pregnant and studying for her masters degree and had two little boys who were playing on two different hockey teams and a little girl who was amazing, still want to keep on going… THANK YOUUU!!!

I think Denzel Washington said…

“If you are looking for an excuse, you will find one.” 

Next time if you are in a difficult, challenging or tenacious situation…

Close your eyes and think about something that makes you smile. 

Something that when you think about it, everything around you does not exist.

Give.

Up?

Trust me. It’s hard. I’m not saying either or not to give up.

I'm saying that in the moment…

Give in.

Let out all your tensions.

Take a couple of breaths.

Then focus on what to do right now. 

Give up?

(shake my head from side to side)

Don’t worry.

I.

Won’t.

Give.

Up.

On.

You.

-Arthur