The process of moving through life is a journey of planned and unplanned events. Twists and turns along our paths are marked by pleasures and perils, joys and sorrows, ups and downs. Facing illness is a common and often debilitating event. As the “forever” concept of youthful stamina and buoyancy slowly wanes, the decline of health can carry a heavy weight making physical soundness and equilibrium more elusive.

A diagnosis of chronic illness (heart disease, diabetes, lung issues the three biggies I refer to today) takes time to digest. Feelings need recognition, expression, and acknowledgement, but in order to successfully manage illness it is vitally important to traverse through the haze of disbelief and make clear, positive life choices. In Lifetime Fitness and Wellness, Melvin H. Williams writes, “The ultimate key to a Positive Health Life-style is an attitude of self-responsibility for your own health status.”

There is an art to gracious aging. It involves deciding to make the most of life no matter the glitches, choosing to be pleasant no matter the terrain, and fostering the highest possible spiritual and physical health.

“All the hardships that come to you in life, all the tribulations and nightmares, all the things you see as punishments from God are in reality like gifts. They are an opportunity to grow, which is the sole purpose of life,” writes Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in The Wheel of Life. Chronic illness is an opportunity. Progressing with enthusiasm, interest, and dedication into the core of the issue is a way to make the best of what appears to be the worst circumstance. Self-care is your choice. It involves getting on a path to personal wellness.

“Increasingly, Americans are striving toward the state of optimal health known as wellness,” writes Dianne Hales in An Invitation to Health. Optimal, defined as most favorable or desirable, is the operative word in understanding that a state of wellness can be everyone’s goal. A most favorable state of health is an individual achievement.

Having diabetes, COPD (lung problems) or heart disease does not take you out of the running for optimal health. Instead, it invites exploration into the highest state of wellness possible for the conditions at hand. A necessary component for realizing a personal best fitness condition is exercise. A fitness program can be designed to afford you, as a diabetes, pulmonary, or cardiac patient, the best possible state of health.

No matter your pre-diagnosis exercise savvy or lack of fitness know-how, everyone can move easily into a new optimal health lifestyle.

Getting a grip on chronic illness requires developing a “new normal” to ensure quality of life. For most folks dealing with diabetes, heart disease or COPD, exercise is a necessary component. Some folks will have concerns and fears and avoid working out, others will want to dive into their own fitness routine. Neither of these scenarios is a good idea. Talk with your doctor about recommending a safe hospital-affiliated exercise program for optimal health. He or she will acquaint you with a medically managed wellness exercise program that accommodates your health issues. Take charge of your life and do it wisely with your physician’s guidance.

During my years as a wellness personal trainer, I was privy to every aspect of the hospital-affiliated exercise program and hold in high regard the dedicated personnel and determined clients. I had the privilege of helping people work toward improved fitness and functional independence through safe supervised exercise and our clients had a few things to share about their experience.

“I have nothing but good things to say about wellness exercise,” said heart patient Holly. “The first days in the wellness gym were a bit intimidating, but the staff soon made me feel at home. Before long I felt like a pro.”

Diabetes patient Frank said his motivation for joining the hospital program was his diabetes educator. “Get into it or you’re not going to get well,” she said.

When pulmonary client Jerry was asked for his views on wellness exercise, his response was simple. “I like the people.”

Proceed onward working closely with your health care provider.  “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.” Jonathan Winters.

Carole Marshall is a former columnist and feature writer for a national magazine. She’s had stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul books and has written two novels and one fitness book. Contact her at cmkstudio2@gmail.com