I No Longer Feel Guilty for Sharing Good News
I’m heading to the beach with my family soon. Not a resort, or any sort of popular, touristy destination. Far from it, in fact. We like to go to the old family beach house on Floridaās Forgotten Coast, where I went as a child and now want my own children to experience.
Forgotten Coast is an apt description. There are no lights, directions to the old cottage include āturn off the paved road,ā the water is not crystal clear, the sand is not pristine or manicured, you have to take extra precautions with the trash because of the bears, and you are taught from an early age to shuffle your feet on the flats to scare the stingrays.
In other words, itās absolutely perfect.
What it isnāt is accessible. I can’t walk at all due to multiple sclerosis, and without the help of my family, I wouldn’t be able to get my wheelchair into the house, much less upstairs. Without the all-terrain wheelchair that was provided to me by a veterans charity group, I wouldnāt be able to go down to the water or out on the pier, or drive between sandbars at low tide, hunting for shells with the kids. I’m very fortunate, and I know it. Iām grateful for and proud of both the assistance and the assistive devices that make this possible.
So why do I feel like keeping it all to myself, instead of sharing with my host of friends who have MS or other disabilities? Even when describing it above, I subconsciously felt the need to write about the not-so-great parts first so that I wouldnāt feel like I was boasting about my own good fortune.
“Hey, everybody, I got to go to the beach! It was great ā well, not too great. You probably wouldnāt like it.”
In the same way, I donāt talk much about the care I receive from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Sure, the department has its problems, but for the most part, I get a lot of perks that others don’t, and it feels wrong somehow to talk about them. Why do I feel guilty for sharing good news?
Obviously, Iām getting better about sharing, since Iām writing this column now. The main reason I’ve hesitated is out of consideration for how other people with disabilities might feel about my experiences. I donāt mean that Iām projecting my feelings onto others, but if I can tell the difference between bragging and proudly sharing an accomplishment or victory, then others likely can, too. If I can take joy in or be inspired by someone elseās story, then I shouldnāt expect any less from my friends.
Last September, Matt Lafleur, a columnist for Friedreichās Ataxia News, wrote a great piece about hiking down the Grand Canyon in a wheelchair. Am I jealous? Well, yeah. Who wouldnāt be? Am I sharing in the adventure and the joy vicariously? Yes, I am. Again, who wouldnāt be? I may never see the Grand Canyon, but I saw it through his eyes, and his story made me feel like anything is possible.
I’m learning that we don’t have to avoid feeling good or fortunate because someone else may be less fortunate. That really is projecting. Of course, it’s important to know our audience, but we should still share ā both the good and the bad. Sometimes we think that we arenāt allowed to feel good because someone somewhere feels bad. I know I’ve felt this way, but Iām beginning to see that having good news shared with me doesnāt make me feel bad, just as letting some light in doesnāt make it darker.
I look forward to sharing more through this column as Iām borne along in my journey. Because itās a journey with MS, the news won’t always be happy, but Iāll do my best to find the good in it regardless. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Note:Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those ofĀ Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
Comments
Mary Walker
Great start to the column, well written and looking forward to more! So proud of you!
Benjamin Hofmeister
Thanks Mary! It might seem surprising, but it took years for me to find my own voice and then more years to want to share it. I plan on sharing it for the forseeable future.
Ben
Randall Ham
Ben, what a great article! It is amazing how you are turning your life challenges into something beneficial and uplifting to others. I appreciate you as a friend and as a brother.
Benjamin Hofmeister
Thanks Randall! Considering that you once helped two other veterans disable my wheelchair and ambush me with Nerf guns so I'd, "still feel like one of the guys", I don't take your words lightly. Somehow you guys accomodated my disability, but never made me feel disabled.
Ben
Judi
Thank you for sharing. I too went to the beach. I can walk,but uneven surfaces. Then waves too. But with the help of a friend she let me hold on to her and I did it!!! I might do it again.
Benjamin Hofmeister
Thanks for the comment Judi! You absolutely should go back! Do what you can, while you can.
Ben
MsCP
Congrats on a lovely insightful article and a huge thumbs up from a very cranky person who lurks too much these day - keep those words on the page coming - because you do have a way with them :) :) :)
Benjamin Hofmeister
I'm so flattered to be read (or lurked on), MsCP. It's been over 8 years since my diagnosis and it took 4 for me to join a forum and 4 more to want to share outside that. I'm getting there, wherever there is.
Ben
Sabrina Johnson
Hello Ben, you've done a great job of highlighting "survivor's remorse" in the special needs world. My daughter lives with a rare genetic disorder. There will always be others who have better and worse experiences than our own. I still think sharing the good stuff is important. There's enough challenging stuff to face. Keep it coming!
Benjamin Hofmeister
Thanks Sabrina! You reminded me to revisit the topic of "survivorās envy" that I experienced right after diagnosis.
Ben