What does “reset” look like? Sometimes a friggin mess! For me it’s come in the form of two divorces, an everexpanding collection of gear from hobbies I’ve long since moved past. Admittedly though, I’ve learned to love the excitement that goes along with starting something new, not so much the divorces...that sort of reset can be rough and scary. Throw in a chronic illness and I’ve ended up with more anxiety about my future than I ever thought I would.
Ultimately though, what I’m doing is finding myself. It’s a journey of self-discovery, of understanding who I am and my place in the world. I’ve found a peace and contentment with simply living life on my own terms versus following a path that’s based on a societal norm or expectation. To me, following and reaching for the same goals as everybody else is a recipe for half-fulfilled dreams, missed opportunities, and wasted potential. Pursuing your passions and those things that ignite your soul though, there’s no substitute for how that makes us feel. When we find something we love, it ignites a fire within us, there’s a drive that doesn’t require willpower because there’s something bigger that’s pulling us along. When we ignore those feelings and desires, we ultimately betray our potential and who we are.
Can change be scary? Yes.
Can starting over at any age feel overwhelming? Yes.
Then the question that we should all ask ourselves is what do we live our life based on? Is it our passions, aspirations, and dreams...or are we living based on fear? Fear of change, fear of trying something new, fear of following that fire inside that wants you to feed it. ∎
JONATHAN KOHANSKI
Open Water Swimmer, Photographer & MS Warrior
www.awarenessties.us/jonathan-kohanski Hi, I'm Jonathan, I'm a wanderer of sorts, looking to further enrich lives and share experiences that show we are all capable of truly amazing feats that push my own boundaries and can many times turn heads. I'm a sucker for raw and real stories and attempt to share my own, with all the good and bad through that same lens. I'm always open to finding my next adventure that will help me to continue writing the stories that can help others overcome their own demons. I'm a lover of the water and spend a lot of my free time in it, whether it be swimming, body-boarding, or taking photographs while in it. I was diagnosed with MS at the age of 25 and it has changed the course of my life, not just in a physical sense, but also in my perspective of life, what is valuable to me and worthy of my time. We all have our struggles and triumphs, I'm here to share mine and maybe, help others through theirs.
88 AWARENOW / THE MAYDAY EDITION
www.IamAwareNow.com