May is Lou Gehrigs Disease ALS Awareness Month. The following is an account of just one man’s life and the pursuit of his dreams.

The warm summer air weighs on Michael’s shoulders in a heavy wave of condensation. A quick breeze almost distracts him from the clammy skin tightening its grip on the inside of his t-shirt. He glances out onto the field to see the ball hiked and the quarterback move a few paces before hurling it towards the end zone. A successful receiver finishes the drill.

The team jogs over in a wave of musty determination, panting. The usual pep talk ensues before the boys are dismissed to hit the showers and head home after a long practice. As the players trot laughing and hollering back to the locker room, Michael takes a deep breath, tightens his grip on the dark brown canes in his large hands, and ambles quietly towards his office, pensive.

Michael Ortega is living with ALS. He has proven, however, that a man is not his disease, and it does not stop him from living his dream daily.

Since a young age, football has enticed him. He played in college for a few years before heading back home to coach. He believes that football taught him to be the man he is today, and he wants to pass on the virtues of integrity, discipline, and teamwork to ensure a better world than the one he came into.

He hopes to leave a positive mark on the world and to lead a good example for his son that promotes independence, courage, and a instills the knowledge that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

Michael understands the realities of his situation, but will not allow for this to cloud his time left with his family and team. In his words, though we cannot control the wind of our adverse conditions, we can adjust the sails.

Life is a beautifully chaotic mishap. Seemingly insignificant acts throughout our lives have shaped us into who we are today, and are in the process of molding the world around us into something else. Our constantly evolving environment is run through intentions, so embrace life, live it to the fullest and make your mark on the world.

Years ago, my eighth grade history teacher said to us, fill your dash. No one knows how long we have on this earth when we arrive. All that we can do with our time here on earth is to be the inspiration we wish to see in the world. Michael’s determination to be a positive force in the world around him draws people near him. His players look up to him and see him as something to emulate. He is an inspiration in his community and is doing all that he can to embrace and enjoy his time left.

You are not your diagnosis, you are a human being. A living, breathing, feeling, beautiful creature with the power to mold your life into exactly what you want it to be. Adjust the sails as need be and ensure smooth sailing for as long as you are at sea.

Get information about Lou Gehrigs disease ALS now! David Jay lives with ALS and provides assistance, motivation, and information to individuals who need to overcome obstacles in their lives. Get more information when you visit davidjay.blogspot.com/ today!

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