Relationships and CF

**This post was written a handful of months ago. I thought I would re-post it because it's timely and I'm tired :)**

I asked my readers to throw some topics my way to write about so I figured I would tackle the following...

Reader:

I have read a few of your blogs and I love that you have made the choice to refurbish your life by working out. My girlfriend Heather came on here and made a few friends, as well as me, before she left us a few short months ago. I have been going through alot lately and since you asked for suggestions about things to write about I thought one up. How has your life with Mandi been through the ups and downs of everything to do with CF. I know i went through alot with Heather and those years are starting to catch up to me now that shes gone. I know its alot to think about, but i figured i'd try to give you somethin to think/talk about on your blog.

Well, first, I thank you for your kind comments and choosing to read this blog. I'm sorry for your loss but I'm also thankful that you were able to spend 4 great years with Heather. I'm sure she was a huge blessing in your life and a time that you will remember forever. Everybody who is afflicted with CF seem to be special in there own way and are often a blessing to anybody who knows them.

Now onto Mandi and I. Well first off, I have to point out that Mandi and I have only been dating for a year. But when we met it was an instant connection and have probably done more as a couple in this last year than most couples do in 10. We've been to 14 different states, China, Mexico, Canada and have been extremely blessed to be able to spend so much time together.

I met Mandi about 6 months prior to actually sitting down and talking with her, but I was in another relationship and the meeting was brief. I ran into her again after my previous relationship ended when I met up with some friends for a movie. She is actually the little sister of a friend of mine, so the thought of her being "dateable" never entered my mind. We ended up kind of gravitating towards each other and spoke most of the night. Like a fool, I spent most of the night talking about my ex! Again, I stress, I wasn't looking at her in that light and I wasn't looking to get into another relationship. But when I actually started to get to know her and spend more time with her, that all changed. That first weekend I'm pretty sure we talked for 48 hours straight. I was smitten very early on but of course had to play it cool. I mean, what's wrong with me being chased right? Luckily, Mandi was up to the challenge and I'm very thankful that she didn't call my bluff :)

I was very open about my CF from the very first moment we met. The second night that we got together we really dove in head first to the subject. I had touched on it our first conversation, but we were busy talking about past relationships so it was brought up more in passing. When I did start to talk about it, Mandi of course had many questions, but she took every answer in stride. I found out later that she googled what CF was and was little shocked with how the internet made it sound and with how I made it sound. She has now learned that CF not only affects people physically in many different ways, but also mentally. For me, I've never been doom and gloom about it. CF is a challenge, sometimes it a very difficult one, but sometimes I don't even know it's there.

CF has provided many positives in my life as well and Mandi has mentioned many times that she can see the ways that CF has molded my outlook and personality. I honestly don't know what kind of person I would be without CF. If I had to guess though, I really don't think I would be a person that people would want to be around. Now, people seem to gravitate towards me because of my positive outlook and my zest for life. Without CF, who knows if I would have those same attitudes. I think I would take a lot of things for granted and probably not appreciate my friends and family like I do now.

Ok, now that I have successfully NOT answered your question, let me attempt an answer. Point bank: Mandi is my rock. I had my mom to lean on for so many years (and still do) that I knew that I would need a strong and confident woman in my life in order to make a relationship work long term. I needed someone who was comfortable in their own skin and could stand their ground, but also, one who is sensitive enough to "baby me" when I'm not feeling up to snuff. Mandi does the perfect job of "kicking me in the butt, but then bringing me ice". She motivates me and pushes me to know end, but she's there to comfort me when I just can't push any harder.

As far as up and downs, Mandi has handled them like a champ. I know it's sound crazy, but Mandi has already mentioned that she is comfortable with the idea of possibly being a widow at a young age. We of course aren't planning our lives for that to happen,, but we both realize that anything is possible with this unpredictable disease. Mandi not only embraces all of the positive affects that CF has on my life, but the negatives as well. She is the ultimate at just rolling with the punches. Sometimes you can tell she's a bit worried or stressed, but that's where we balance each other out. I don't stress or worry about a thing. When you're told from a very young age that "you probably won't live a normal or long life" you tend to not sweat the small stuff. To be honest, I don't sweat the big stuff either. I'm too busy living my life to the fullest to worry about all of that stuff.

Mandi has seem me at my sickest and handled it like a champ. She almost had no choice though. I never waivered in knowing that I would recover fully and work my butt off until I did. She is a huge reason why I have been able to recover so quickly though. She pushes me everyday and hold me accountable to workout and do my treatments. She really doesn't have to push that hard though, cause since meeting her, I have yet another reason to live.