I once heard that the act of being brave makes you happy, while being an idle coward makes you miserable. But I also heard that it’s impossible to be brave all the time. Sometimes fear gets the best of us, so we idle, and we experience defeat.

It’s a blistering morning, and I’m writing this in my driver’s seat of my air-conditioned car. The dashboard thermometer warns it’s 93 degrees outside. My car is parked next to an empty track that is surrounded by a silver chain-link fence that is italicized by the naked August sun.

In July, I walked 74.14 miles. I averaged 2.39 miles a day. When you have a movement disorder the last thing you often want to do is move. But in July, I made it a point to move. It was not easy but I did it. And I’m proud of my efforts.

On July 31st, my family and I attended a Liverpool Football (soccer) Club preseason match in Philadelphia. It was the first Liverpool game I ever saw in person. I became a Liverpool fan years ago when I learned my now deceased step-grandmother’s extended family, who lives in England, are big Liverpool fans. And though we’re not blood relatives and I met some of them more than 30 years ago, the idea of a “family lineage” was reason enough to begin supporting Liverpool.

However, my fandom grew more personal when I was diagnosed with ataxia and walking became more challenging because the team’s song is the old dirge, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

Sung by Liverpool fans before each game, the song doesn’t claim the world is a fair and happy place. In fact, the song reminds us that at some point in our lives we will walk through a metaphorical “storm” and though the world will be dark and “our dreams may be tossed and blown” and though our walking may become difficult we must continue to walk with “hope in our heart” and know that–even though it feels like it–we will never walk alone.

The game ended, July ended, August began, my incurable brain disease remained uncured, and my mile count reset to zero.

It was sobering and scary to know I had to begin again. But if I have learned anything it’s this– the quality of your life depends on if you have the courage to begin again.

I hope these notes serve as good companions on your journey when you are doubting yourself and have to begin a daunting task again. Remember that you’re never walking alone. I have been there– hell, I’m there right now–and I know how it feels. But I also know that you can do it. You are strong, capable, and resilient. Believe in yourself, be courageous, and don’t give up.

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Be well,

Jay

Are you writer? Are you looking for writing advice or writing tactics that you can guide you on your writing journey?

One, Line, One Love: Episode 30: Freedom, Creativity, and Choosing a Direction

In this episode of “One, Line, One Love,” Gail and Jay discuss “freedom” and its many forms, including personal, societal, and moral. They share their own experiences with freedom and explain why it’s a valuable subject for the everyday writer. They also discuss how writing can provide a creative outlet that can help you experience freedom. If you’re an everyday writer, you won’t want to miss this episode!

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Warm greetings to everyone who found me on the University of Pennsylvania’s Ataxia Clinic’s website! Thanks for stopping by. I have ataxia and though I’m not a doctor, I hope my words comfort, encourage, empower, and serve as good company on your journey.

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Jay Armstrong is a speaker and an award-winning author. Despite being diagnosed with a rare neurological disease, that impairs his movement, balance, eyesight, and speech–Jay presses on. The leader of the Philadelphia Ataxia Support Group, he hopes to help you find joy, peace, and meaning in life.