“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Earlier today, my son and I watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone together. It was his introduction to the Harry Potter movies, and he could not have been more into it. I watched his face light up as he experienced the magic, and my heart overflowed with joy and gratitude. It was one of those experiences that I know I will never forget. I am so grateful to have been able to share those moments with him.

Today also happens to be the 5-year anniversary of my double lung transplant. I have a strong suspicion that this is the impetus behind my overwhelming, and grateful, thoughts as of late. A major life event tends to do that. Sometimes it doesn’t even take such a line of demarcation; a willingness to be open can be life-changing in itself.

I have gone through a lot, not only in the last 5 years, but throughout my entire life. I’m guessing that I’m not the only one who can say that. Life is challenging, and we all experience those challenges in different ways. However, it is what we make of the hard stuff that steers our life in any given direction. What I’ve come to realize is that even though the act of getting through the rough stuff is something that most of us would rather skip altogether, we have the amazing ability to choose how we think, react, and move forward. We have the opportunity to learn and grow - if we are willing to see it and choose to act on it. Now, don’t get me wrong here. The curveballs and trauma that life can throw our way do not always end well, and they can be more that we can handle at times. However, sometimes what we perceive to be the worst thing that could happen may actually turn out to be the best gift.

For me, it was getting to the “worst case scenario” of needing to be listed for a double lung transplant. It meant that there were no other options. No matter what I did, I wasn’t going to change the course of my health decline. I felt powerless, and I had to surrender to my circumstances. I made the choice to be listed because I felt it was the best choice for me. Five years after waking up from that surgery, I could not be more grateful. This was not the path that I had originally planned, but I sure am glad to be on it, especially considering the inevitable alternative.

Because things got as bad as they could, and because I got through it, I have been given an incredible gift. One that has allowed me to experience so much more life that I would have otherwise, and yes, that even includes other “tough stuff.” It has given me the ability to spend time with my family and friends. It has allowed me to be humbled, so that I can learn and grow. It has allowed me to continue becoming the person that I want, and am meant, to be. It has allowed me to be present and watch my son grow into the 9-year-old that he is today, and hopefully it will allow me to be here as he continues becoming the amazing person that he is.

As I go through life, I try to bear in mind that while life presents challenges, it also presents opportunities. The more I stay open and willing to experience what life has to offer, the more I find myself getting the most out of life. It doesn’t have to take a transplant to make the decision to be present in life. It’s something that we have the ability to do at any moment. I highly recommend it.