"Beyond Rage"
 
              I am a person who happens to have an illness.
                      I can no longer do certain things.
                More important, I am a person who can acknowledge
           what my feelings are about myself and my physical predicament.
                 I can be sad and upset when it is appropriate.
       I continue with as much positive feeling and activity in my life as I can.
                    I strive not to judge myself too harshly.
         I accept the limitations of others while continuing to flexibly adapt
                      to my own changing circumstances.
      I have seen the cost to me of holding on to anger, bitterness and jealousy.
            I have the power to choose not to continue these feelings.
        I must recognize my own emotional and physical vulnerability and let
                             that be acceptable.
                         I donot give up on myself.
        I trust I will continue to do what I can with what I have today, so that
       tomorrow - should those abilities be lost to me - I will have few regrets
                       about the way I lived today.

 JoAnn LeMaistre