I have always had the capacity to look outward, even from the confines of a sick bed. My mother always covered herself in a coat of eternal optimism and when she died she must have left it in my wardrobe for future wear. I had many months of constant pain when I was young after my accident, but she always encouraged me never to give up my efforts; never to give in to a can't-do attitude. She reminded me that though the forces of nature can shift and shape mountains, carve out valleys, drowned cities and destroy land, there is no force on earth strong enough to change the nature of man and woman once their character has been truly formed.
A pessimist will always be dissatisfied and discontent. A discontent person is someone who is forever stuck in their own negative space and emotional time warp, whereas a good-natured man or woman with a positive attitude has the whole wide world to be happy out of. It is foolish to confine oneself to the restrictive company of those who refuse to sing, smile and jump in puddles. The world is too big a place not to spread one's wings at every opportunity. As I lay in bed this morning, 15 hours after entering it the night before, I could hear my mother's voice as clearly as it was when I was in danger of being late for school if I didn't get out of bed instantly. I can still hear her yelling up the stairs, 'Get up, Billy Forde. The day has started and there are things to do!'" William Forde: September 17th, 2017.