Personal Transformations

COVID-19 may be a blessing in disguise for those who used the time wisely for personal transformation. The same also holds true for those with macular degeneration. Let’s take a look at COVID-19 first.

Fear during the pandemic

This past year has been challenging to say the least. In our lifetimes, few of us have ever gone through anything like COVID-19 and all it entails. The fear of contracting a fatal virus plus the isolation was nothing we ever experienced before. And it lasted much longer than we thought, creating a lot of anxiety for those missing the social interaction with family, friends, and neighbors.

Once we began to overcome our fear of the glass being half empty, we began to realize that the same glass was also half full. That shift in perception was a saving grace!

Finding different ways to cope

Instead of desperately hanging on until the pandemic passed, many seized the moment to see it differently and use the time and space this pandemic offered to reflect and go deeper in areas we rarely gave the time of day. Others chose to distract themselves by temporary means - such as food, social media, alcohol, or drugs - to numb the effects of the isolation. Some chose a blend to cope.

Coping through reflection

However, those who chose reflection on the meaning behind their experiences are the ones who most benefitted from personal transformations that probably would not have occurred had COVID-19 not entered the picture. For them, the pandemic truly was a blessing. The good news is, we don’t need a pandemic to transform.

Transforming, a choice?

All we have to do is make up our minds and choose to shift from “half empty” to “half full.” It IS a choice! Whatever coping strategy you embraced, we can always choose again if we’re unhappy with the end result. Who could have guessed what was ahead?

Choosing to grow

Just as we had a choice whether or not to transform, grow and evolve during the pandemic, so do we have that same choice after being diagnosed with macular degeneration (MD). We have free will.

The question we all need to ask is: How does that work for us when we see ONLY the negative side? Just like COVID-19, this diagnosis is certainly unwelcome and raises questions and serious concerns. Not knowing what the future holds can be very unnerving.

Initially, the glass definitely looks half empty. In fact, it’s hard to imagine anything good about receiving this diagnosis... Until you’ve had time to process the news. Stay with me - This really works!

Can macular degeneration be a blessing?

As strange as it sounds, a MD diagnosis offers different opportunities and options we may never have known if not for our diagnosis. We can share our stories and experiences on this website to help others.

When we share with others, new ideas come, and new acquaintances are made. When we are open, new knowledge helps us see possibilities we may not have considered before. For me, it was becoming an advocate for maculardegeneration.net - A community I never realized existed.

My glass half full

Today, I see things much differently - in a more positive light. With the glass now “half-full,” I feel far more joy being of service to others. When our hearts and minds are open to new possibilities, they seem to magically appear.

The universe has our back! Positive energy attracts positive energy. What once looked bleak now looks brighter, and the only change was - my ATTITUDE! Is your glass half-empty or half-full? It’s your choice!