I’ve been very fortunate to have the opportunity of working with hundreds of CF warriors over the years either through the National CF Foundation, The CF Warrior Project, or just sharing ideas on how to improve health and fundraising. Let me share my list of 10 qualities I find inspiring about fellow CF warriors and how I implement these attributes into my own life. Here you go:
10: Being open: I enjoy it when fellow warriors are open about their lives, especially when it’s not all sunshine. It’s important for people to realize we are all human. We all make mistakes. We all have bad days. That doesn’t mean you’re negative. It just means you’re real.
9. Unstoppable attitude: I love that no matter how difficult things get a person can keep fighting. One of my favorite quotes is “The comeback is better than the setback.” Through writing “The CF Warrior Project” and friending a lot of these people on Facebook, I have seen the daily challenges that people have but their positive attitudes never waver.
8. Pity parties not allowed: CF is a difficult disease and we all have our moments of despair, but no one likes a pity party. I think there are ways of turning it around. Instead of saying “CF is beating me,” perhaps saying, “CF won this battle but I intend to win the war,” comes off more empowering.
7. Never stop setting goals: I love watching fellow warriors set goals and accomplish them. Whether it’s academics, athletics, fundraising or whatever, I love seeing the passion for doing something that inspires them, which in turns inspires others like me.
6. Promoting compliance: I enjoy when CF warriors post pictures doing treatments. It makes it less “different” seeing someone else use a nebulizer, a vest, an oxygen mask, etc. It’s nice knowing we have a lot in common with others who have cystic fibrosis.
5. Fundraising: I once heard if every CF family did their part with fundraising, we would have millions more dollars to put towards research. I don’t know how true that is but I definitely believe it’s up to each of us to raise money and awareness. Not everyone has the financial means for raising money but each of has the ability of putting our face in front of a camera and promoting the importance of finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
4. What bubble? : Too many of us live in a bubble and in certain instances it’s the right thing to do (i.e. wearing masks and using hand sanitizer) but it’s okay to open ourselves up to doing uncomfortable things here and there. It makes us feel like we’re really living.
3. Self care: I like to see people with CF primarily being their own caretakers. We need to take the initiative when it comes to insurance, our treatments, our meds, etc.
2. We don’t know everything: I think it’s inspiring that even old CF warriors like myself are still willing to make adjustments to our care after researching what works. I remember when I was sick many years ago and a doctor said some patients do treatments three times a day instead of two. I knew it was a lot of work but I changed and it helped. I’ve also enhanced my workout routine, running and post-workout smoothies based on research, including using an elevation mask which works for some people to strengthen their lungs (please check with a doctor before making such a change).
1. Using social media to enhance awareness: I know people don’t want to be defined by cystic fibrosis but it’s so important to raise awareness. I believe social media can really help explain what we deal with daily, especially since CF is primarily an “invisible disease.”
Want to be inspired even more? Read the CF Warrior Project book today! There you will find 65 awe-inspiring stories of CF Warriors defeating the odds and making the most of their lives and passions. You can also read more about the project on Cystic Fibrosis News Today, they did an amazing feature on me and the project.