In October, I was terminally diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Rather than despair and be defined by my illness, I have chosen to redefine ALS.
As I approach death, ALS means to: Appreciate Life’s Simplicity. Life’s simple miracles are the most profound: a hug from your mom, a night of passion with your partner, a concert with your children, storytime with your grandchild, good tequila shared with friends, a star-lit evening, and a capicola and cheese from Primanti’s!
ALS means to: Always Live to Serve. Since my diagnosis, I have encountered kindness, generosity and love at unimaginable levels. Family, friends and total strangers have gone out of their way to lift me up, figuratively and literally. Serving one another is our true calling as human beings and the way we claim our share of divinity!
ALS means that: All Life’s Sacred. Despite the efforts of preachers and politicians to divide us, we all share a fundamental bond as children of God. God’s children comprise every race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity and political party. Nothing is more important than our equal and primary dignity as children of God!
If it took ALS to remind me of the importance of simplicity, service and sacredness, then it was worth it!
Keith G. Kondrich
Swisshelm Park