Are you planning for the future?

Published January 20, 2017

When you’re living with a chronic condition such as multiple sclerosis, thinking about the future is sometimes rather daunting and a bit scary with all of the unknowns. Of course, no one really knows their future regardless of chronic illness.

Personally, I try not to think too much about the future. I find it best to focus on the present and live in the moment as best I can. Of course, that is easier said than done and I will occasionally have to confront the possibilities of the future.

Several years back when my husband and I were looking for a new house, he kept setting up appointments to see one-floor Ranch-style houses. I kept trying to insert Capes, a house style I’ve always loved, into our house search. He kept pushing and pushing for the one-floor Ranch. I knew what he was thinking and finally, I had to confront him: “Look, honey, you’re probably going to be in a wheelchair before I am!”

I’ll admit that I’m lucky having a partner in my life who is thinking ahead and trying to prepare for the future, a future he wants to spend with me. The possibility of one floor living being a necessity frightens me but it shouldn’t; it is a reality that we all may have to face one day — chronic illness or not. To me, I would like to cross that bridge when I come to it and I’d rather not consider it now. However, I have to admit that it did get me thinking: is having a plan really that bad of an idea?

Again, I’m lucky that my husband is thinking of ways to modify our current house (a Cape, I might add) and to make it easily accessible and handicap-friendly, should I need that. It is something that we may have to confront some day and I guess it can’t hurt to be prepared.

So what do you think? Should we make plans for the future? Are there things that you have done or plan on doing? Let us know your thoughts.