I have always tried to have a open disposition in my mind. By this I mean open to such things as..................
the fun of going swimming at the lake as a child, having my first auditory hallucination at age 13, turning to Atheism in grade seven, finishing high school in Canada's Centennial year, going to Expo in Montreal as a paranoid schizophrenic, being certified to a mental hospital at age 19, getting my first job in my 1960's, having shock treatment several years later, the excitement of attending my first university class, the exhilaration of receiving my university degree later in
life, the perseverance and diligence it took to conqueror problem drinking, The list goes on and on. But perhaps my greatest achievement was when I was open minded enough to accept Christ into my heart and know that because of him I will have salvation some day in Heaven...
Respect
I have always been able to regain my self - respect in my life. With forced institutionalization's, I regained my self - respect. With paranoid schizophrenia, I regained my self - respect. With problems with alcohol, I regained my self - respect. With shock treatment, I regained my self - respect. With trouble with the police, I regained my self - respect. With living in isolation, I regained my self - respect. With trouble in finding a job, I regained my self - respect. With feelings of negativism, I regained my self - respect. With emptiness in me, I regained my self - respect.
Despite the fact that I have been down but not numerous times, I have never lost hope in life. I have always been able to remain optimistic and look forward to a better tommorrow. After all what else do we have to look forward to? Yesterday is gone snd today wil soon be tomorrow. Therefore we have only tomorrow. With God's grace I hope I can always continue to keep my self - respect. Brcause if we lose our self - respect, life itself it lost. Self - respect is something that makes me go on living while the world keeps on revolving.
Warren Debler