When you have a disability or chronic illness, one of the most important things you can do is to learn as much as you can about it.  The more you know, the easier it should be to get a handle on those days when you feel like it is a constant battle and you are not sure you are winning.

Knowing the language or words that go with COPD/Asthma is a great way to start or to continue to refresh a person’s knowledge of the ins and outs of the lifelong health companion which we are dealing with.

With all that in mind, let’s discuss the word ‘Failure’.

‘Failure’ is defined as ‘the condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends’.  Yes, to some ‘failure’ is really dependent on how it is referenced, as in some circumstances what is considered ‘failure’ to one person may actually be a success to another.

Another reference to the word ‘failure’ would be ‘nonperformance of what has been requested or expected’, while another could an ‘act or fact of failing to pass a test or assignment’ and yet one more could be ‘the cessation of proper functioning or performance’.

You may be asking yourself, why is ‘failure’ a word that should be known with the battles we fight with COPD and/or Asthma?

Because when you are fighting a chronic illness/disease such as COPD and/or Asthma, you will be hearing the word over and over – ‘failure’ of the lungs working, ‘failure’ of a med you tried, ‘failure’ of seeing the trigger that just set off an exacerbation or ‘failure’ in life because you have a chronic illness.

Instead of looking at the negative side of ‘failure’ though, we with these battles of COPD/Asthma or any chronic illness should work hard every day of seeing beyond what would be considered a failure to others.

In other words, the idea of ‘failure’ being a true negative would be only if and when a person fighting any chronic illness stops learning about it, stops working with it or stops living with it.

NEVER stop trying to learn more about your COPD and/or Asthma, for you never know when you might learn something about the battle that will put it all in a new light.  Besides, when you stop trying to learn about your COPD and/or Asthma, you are being a ‘failure’ to yourself, your human machine as well as to the tribe of folks that surround you in this path of life you have been given.

NEVER stop working with your COPD and/or Asthma, for working on exercises that involve breathing and body conditioning is what is needed to extend your living – for if you do not keep up the exercising and conditioning and your life is cut shorter than may be already, then you have produced a ‘failure’ to yourself and to those in the tribe of folks that surround you in this path of life you have been given.

NEVER stop living or working at living with your COPD and/or Asthma, for living with your chronic illness means to push yourself on those days your body says no, to push yourself to take the meds required on those days your mind and body may be saying enough is enough or pushing yourself to be there for the tribe that surrounds you – for when you stop pushing yourself, you stop working at living, then you have been a ‘failure’ to yourself and those in the tribe of folks that surround you in this path of life you have been given.

The ‘failure’ of our lungs is a positive in that it gives a person the unique path of living that most do not have, which in retrospect gives a person a unique way to help others see the world and how it could be if they themselves do not stop ‘failing’ themselves by smoking, drinking or just working in and around every day triggers that can and will mess up your way of living.

So, please note that ‘failure’ is not an option for those with COPD and/or Asthma, because failing to learn, work and live with our chronic illness will most likely bring more pain, more suffering and more disappointment in a much faster time frame than expected for yourself and those in the tribe around you.

As always – if you or anyone you know have any symptoms involving lung and breathing functionality, and they linger over and over while disrupting a lifestyle – then please ask questions and get it checked out.

NOTE TO REMEMBER: We only give descriptions and highlights of various aspects of having COPD and/or asthma and no way do we ever want our information to be considered medical treatment type of information, always consult your physician for more, clearer and more medical founded information.

Remember – ‘a person without good breathing, is a person without a good life’, so let’s do what we can, to learn what we can, to improve what we can.

With that I bid to all – smiles, prayers, blessings and steady breathing – Mr. William.

(Copyright@2017, CrossDove Writer, reprinting or reuse of this article is restricted without written permission.)

Know that you can follow all the writings by CrossDove Writer pertaining to COPD/Asthma by following at wheezingaway.com or on Facebook at COPD Travels.

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(Information gathered from various books and internet sources discussing COPD, Asthma and other lung diseases)