Hell is other people
"The best lesson I ever taught myself was that “What you think, you become.” I refused to let being unhappy define me or let it shape my mindset for the rest of my life. In gaining happiness and trust again, I also learned to anticipate the outcome of whatever I decided in life. After all, happiness, hope and trust are 100% up to you, and you alone."
Ignorance
Oh, people will stalk you on Facebook on their smartphone, but do not ask them to find unprejudiced, trustworthy websites to learn something about your condition on that very smartphone. Quite often, they "will do so when they have time," despite having their phone in their hands 50 times a day.
No Place for Extremism
I may have been critical of my native country Belgium in the past, but yesterday’s events in Brussels solidified friendships and my love for my people’s resilience and way of life. IS, ISIL, ISIS, Daesh (or whichever way they want to be called next) may think they won another war on foreign soil, but the western world is ready to shatter further illusions of jihadism and hatred harder, faster and louder. There simply is no place for extremism in our world. Many thanks to the emergency services, fire department, police, Belgian army and all those who helped people caught up in the terror attacks. For updates on the ongoing situation, please visit the BBC News website here. © Willeke Van Eeckhoutte and Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis & Me, 2011-2016. Unauthorized use and/or duplication…
Let’s be frank
"Too many times we like to blame others for our own problems. Situations and people create our experiences, but these situations and people don't create you. Understanding our past helps us to distinguish why we hold on and repeat self-destructive behaviours. When we feel anger, resentment and other non-positive emotions, the only one we annoy is ourselves. So, choose taking ownership over blaming others, happiness over negativity, a new way of life over just remaining in a rut."
Responsibility hurts
“When physical restraints curb your potential, you realise that you want so more from your own life, and out of your own reality. Life is moving forward outside your medically induced world, and you feel annoyed when healthy people don’t realise the worth of their bodies, their unused potential. It reminds you that being chronically ill sucks. It’s energy depleted in all the wrong places. There is no uptake to being ill. There is no room for manoeuvring when you’re faced with an illness that will -quite literally- be there until you draw your last breath."
Christmas… rescheduled!
Sometimes life just throws tantrums and curveballs because of your illness – missing out on Christmas with my nieces and uncle at the very last minute is just one of those moments. But then you realise that your family’s love, acceptance and support will keep you going long after the Christmas holidays, no matter what. Instead of Father Christmas giving you presents, they want him to take away your sorrow. They know that Christmas can’t be bought in a store, but instead is given in invisible mountains of love. They feel your anguish and wished they could take your physical pain from you. They root for you, uplift you and guide you. You feel empowered by them being there, even when divided by country borders. You know they believe you,…
Trading pens and ink for bullets
"My own freedom of speech means the need to write, to create, to share, to ask, to think, to discuss and then create again the way I intended, the format and content I choose. It's not only my basic human right, but it's yours also and should be upheld regardless of country borders or religious background."
