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DEL.ICIO.USWater for life
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I can’t remember a vacation I’ve taken that didn’t involve water in some form, whether I was snow-skiing in western New York, snorkeling in the Florida Keys, whitewater rafting on Idaho’s Salmon River or camping beside a stream in the North Georgia mountains.
I’m not sure why water is so important to me or how it is that the same substance that can be so relaxing can also scare me to death, as it did when I fell out of my boat while rafting.
There’s no question that water is part of the fabric of life.
We drink it, cook with it, bathe and play in it. It’s soothing and cooling and sometimes unpredictable.
In that sense, it’s just like life — every day is different, and every day we have a choice how we live. When problems arise, we often talk of sinking or swimming.
I understand this, and so does Shirley Nelms. Shirley was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago, and doctors weren’t too optimistic about her prognosis. But she’s chosen to swim and engage with life. Her battles have been big, small and very inspiring.
One example:
Shirley never liked her smile and spent her life hiding it with her hand when she spoke.
Chemotherapy damaged it more.
When Shirley was given an opportunity to improve her teeth, she jumped at it.
“It’s not about appearance, it’s about confidence,” she said.
Her new smile has brought Shirley a measure of peace.
It hasn’t cured her cancer, and just like the rest of us, she doesn’t know what tomorrow will bring. But she’s still swimming, enjoying life with an incredible smile and looking forward to tomorrow.
How do you choose swim through life’s difficulties?
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