Andy Drooker - Just Breathe

Cope

Verb (used without object)

To face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, especially successfully or in a calm or adequate manner.

dictionary.com

Cope

Verb (intransitive verb)

1a: to deal with and attempt to overcome problems or difficulties.

1b: to maintain a contest or combat usually on even terms or with success.

Merriam-Webster

Sounds simple enough, right?

Hope

Verb (intransitive verb)

To cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true.

Merriam-Webster

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

Charles Dickens

The above quote sums up my life perfectly. I have lived a wonderfully rich, rewarding life. I have had the opportunity to be part of so many wonderful things that I could fill another bookfrom a career launching networks for Ted Turner around the world, to the best job any man could hope to get, being a father.

I am a father to a gorgeous, insightful, creative daughter. Who, I hope, will have her own view of the world someday. But along that journey, she will hopefully give her dad some gray hair, not a lot, while keeping him young.

For most of my life, unknown to me, I have lived with and battled with cystic fibrosis (CF). As you continue reading, Ill walk you on the journey I took to get to this very point; you will understand how for forty-nine years, I fought with it and did not even know it. For every breath I takethanks, Stingit affects my body. Sleeping with this unknown enemy takes its toll.

The battle rages on several fronts. First is the psychological front. That front is composed of a three-pronged assault on me, my mind, and my heart.

What weapons do I utilize in my arsenal? I cannot be like Captain Kirkyou will see a lot of Star Trek metaphors, more on that laterand fire phasers, thus destroying the enemy. No, my weapons are inside meattitude, emotional strength, and determination.

Falling into a mind-field of self-pity and self-doubt is sometimes easy. When those two attack slowly, the defenses are not always strong enough, and the darkness creeps in. When that occurs, hoping and coping are just words with no meaning, no power, not a defense. Nothing has any meaning.

My sighs of desperation, frustration, and shaky self-worth instigated a fire in my mind to share the importance of my story. This book is not so much a memoir as it is a legacy for my daughter. It is a book about surviving and growing. Rising above, fear, anger, self-pity, doubt, and lets not forget the anger caused by the question anyone would ask, Why the fuck me?

So, the book is not about illness, but about the quest for emotional and physical health. If you are looking for the answer, there is only an answercoping, taking the journey of a personal quest for answers and peace. This book describes my path. Remember, living life is not about the destination; it is about the journey. If you have ten ways to cross town, all will help you arrive at your destination, but the one you choose to follow is up to you.

This story is my journey. I sincerely hope you enjoy the ride with me. We will make stops, but they all are necessary because they got me to where I am today and will most likely be tomorrow.

One last note, learning to cope is the toughest part of any education. School is always in session. It is never over. New situations and challenges arise daily, which requires never-ending adjustments. Learning to live with adversity is instinctive. If something is instinctive, an individual will naturally or automatically, inherently self-learn and adapt to the situation. That is what life is. Yes, it sucks! But, if it was really that bad, would I want to share it with you?

That is the question, or did I already give my answer?