We all know that when we are dealing with a tough struggle - whatever it might be - it is hard to look on the bright side. It's something that you have to work at - an every day thing. Think of it as conditioning. If you try to find something positive in a crappy situation at least once a day, pretty soon it will become second nature.
I am not saying that it's easy.
I look at my two-page long symptom list, my medical journal that only contains appointments, phone calls, medical discussions, and problems, all of the medications, and think about certain activities and moments that I might be missing out on....
The first thing I do is look at my puppy. I still would have been connected with him, but I'm not sure that he would have meant SO much to me had he not been getting me through some really tough times. I look at some of the opportunities that I have had THROUGH being sick - singing for certain events, meeting specific people, being involved in certain discussions and events, and I start to remember that - even with crappy days and pain and struggle - there is a hell of a lot of good that has come out of it too.
It's not easy to focus on the bright side. But it is worth it.