Looking back, I suppose we have all wasted time. When I was a young woman, it was all about my friends. I had the love and security of the family I grew up with, but we all struggle to break free of our family, only later to come back and realize they are the best support we have in our lives. I had so much fun growing up with all my many friends, each one a friend for a different reason. I have friends from my neighborhood, friends from school, friends from the night club scene, friends of friends, college friends, friends in the sign trade, friends from work etc. There are friends I have known since kindergarten that I am still great friends with today. I have my mom friends who have kids with disabilities. They keep me going and give me inspiration. 
                     As I grow older, I am careful how I spend my time because time is a limited commodity. Last week I talked to a friend who is a mother of boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It was unusual for me to talk so long but our conversation was important to both of us. So this was not a waste of time. I have friends I touch base with on occasion because they are very important to me. My family time is of utmost importance to me because they are the investment of my husband and me. Outside my immediate family, it is my sisters with whom I wish to spend time. We have our differences occasionally but we have only admiration nd respect for each other. 
                     I was conversing with a fellow employee this week and he mentioned a childhood memory. It was a sad memory about his young brother’s death. He was in fifth grade and his brother was in the first grade. His family was very large. Since he and his brother attended the same school, he was asked by his mother to tell the brother’s teacher that his brother would not be back to school because he has passed away. It was perhaps the strongest memory of my fellow employee as a child. He told me that he went to see the teacher who was conversing with a few other teachers when he interrupted them. They all stayed to hear his message, “My brother won’t be back to school because he passed away last night” He remembered bursting into tears. 
                     I have thought of this fellow employee for the past few days and am humbled that he shared that story with me. I am not sure why he was comfortable with sharing it, but am glad he shared it with me. We all have stories. That was certainly no waste of my time. It reminds me of the book, “The Five People you Meet in Heaven” It is also in movie form. In life, we never know who affects us and who we affect. 
                     I also read a story about a local doctor who has ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig ’s disease. I was immediately struck by his wife’s comments, that the first year after diagnosis was very terrible. I felt the exact same way after I found my son to have a serious illness. I cried every day and night for what seemed like months. It had a profound effect on my marriage, and my parenting to my other child as well as my affected son. I was devastated for a very long time. After some time was I able to find some peace and learn to live life. Then I could teach my children to live their lives. 
                    A diagnosis is not a death sentence and nobody can take away your hopes and dreams. There is no person on Earth who holds the crystal ball and by no means do we all fit inside a nice box, with all diagnoses having the same exact reactions. We are all very different. Choose your time wisely and surround yourself with positive people. My best to all my friends because I am truly blessed.