I read a story about a happy ambitious young nursing student.  Who was diagnosed with tuberculosis.  Back in 1928 the treatment was to send her to a nursing home for several months for "curing."  She was destined to be bed ridden for 21 years.  Most people would have given up, but not Isabel Smith. She came close to death several times, but she never ceased to pursue the art of living.  She was an avid reader, loved to write letters, studied geography, and taught other patients to read and write.  

While ill she met a kind, gentle, man, also a patient and she dreamed of marrying him someday and having a little house "under the mountains."  At her lowest ebb, her dream kept going, and in 1948, she did marry. She then wrote a book about, " all the good things life has brought me."  Wish I Might, published in 1955, earned her enough in royalties to buy her mountain retreat.

A tragic life?  Hardly!  Isabel Smith achieved everything she set out to achieve, even when the odds against her were a thousand to one.  Even flat on her back in bed, she never quit growing, learning, and giving.

Don't let life's snags keep you from reaching your goals.  Not many people spend twenty one years of their life in bed.  Imagine what you can accomplish with health and mobility!

Do what you can with what you have where you are.
 

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