This is Day 39 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

Possibility. The world is full of it. What might be. What we are hoping for, what we are dreading. It is knowing that all things are possible that gives us hope. That lets us know that there might be a cure out there for us.

The possibilities that lie in the future are what give me something to dream about. There are an infinite number of ways that our lives can end up and there is no limit to where we can go.

Emily Dickinson said, “Dwell in possibility.”

It is in possibility that my feet are firmly planted. In the chance for a cure. The possibility of the end of pain. Or maybe even falling in love. I like it over here. Where hope and dreams are par for the course. Where the wonders of life are endless and where there is no life sentence for bad genetics.

Share the positivity on Twitter, Instagram and Google+ with the hashtag #100pI dsitivedays. Also, you can sign up to be emailed a recap each week of the challenge.

This is Day 39 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

Enthusiasm. It is how you embrace your life. How you find passion and follow it, no matter what your circumstances are.

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This is Day 38 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

Most of us are holding out for some sort of magic. A super pill or other cure. Some sort of miracle that will end our suffering. For me, and for many I know, that magic cure isn’t coming any time soon.

One of my favorite proverbs says “A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything.” I’d say that is about 80% right.

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This is Day 37 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

Pain is a cruel master that comes in all different forms. There are injuries and accidents that cause temporary pain. Chronic illnesses and diseases that cause incessant pain. Then there is the pain of the heart. All of these pains are very real and their implications on life vary.

But as cruel of a master that pain can be, it is also an excellent teacher. It shows us just how strong we are.

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This is Day 36 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

We all want to have purpose in our lives – to know where we are going. We want to know that who we are and what we do matters. That our actions make a difference. We want to be heard, have our art seen. We want to go far and help others. We want to matter. To matter is to have purpose.

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This is Day 35 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

I really don’t want to sound trite or cliched here. I really, really don’t. In this case, I believe the cliches are true. That they describe exactly how I feel about inspiration.

It is everywhere.

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This is Day 34 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

When I posted today’s theme this morning, a friend wrote “A scar is like a tattoo but with a better story,” and I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. Some people look at scars like a disfigurement, I see mine as a roadmap of my own story.

It is thoughts like this one from my dear friend KC’s story that show me just how much we need to change how we see our scars:

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This is Day 32 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

Connection is how we make it in this life. Families, friends, loved ones. They are all connections. We make connections with everyone we meet. We are connected by shared experiences and shared beliefs.

I am connected to some amazing people. Friends and family. Coworkers. These connections provide support and comfort when I need it. They offer humor and camaraderie on a regular basis.

We are all connected. And we all keep each other positive.

Share the positivity on Twitter, Instagram and Google+ with the hashtag #100positivedays. Also, you can sign up to be emailed a recap each week of the challenge.

This is Day 31 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

Learning. Not unlike discovery, it requires you to have a desire for information. But learning is all about gaining knowledge. Reading books, listening to lectures or taking classes. Always learning keeps you young and it keeps life interesting.

Every day, I listen to the world news in both French and German. I listen to podcasts on everything from the history of the English language to web design and development. Last year I read nearly 40 novels, this year around 20 novels and 15 non-fiction books. Three of them weren’t in English.

I keep my mind active, because when it is doing those things – learning something, it can’t be thinking about the pain or life with food allergies. Learning keeps me occupied and out of dark places. And science says it is good for me too.

Keep learning, keep your mind busy, and you can keep your mind it a positive place.

Share the positivity on Twitter, Instagram and Google+ with the hashtag #100positivedays. Also, you can sign up to be emailed a recap each week of the challenge.