My 2026 resolution is to build stronger faith and hope
Focusing on what I can control, even as my SMA progresses
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It’s that time of year when people are thinking about resolutions, things they can do to improve themselves in 2026. Whether it’s losing weight, gaining muscle, learning a new skill, or going on an adventure, many of us like to set goals, make plans, and hope that, by next year, we will somehow be better than we are now.
My friend Regina and I were talking recently about how in the world of disabilities — especially ones that progress over time — the futility of physical self-improvement can be discouraging and depressing. I’ve lived my whole life with SMA, and over time I’ve gradually lost strength and mobility. Regina lives with multiple sclerosis, and even though her body functioned normally for most of her life, her physical abilities have declined significantly, even in the past two years that I have known her.
Regina is from New York, has awesome white, curly hair and a mischievous grin, and says the most unconventional and hilarious things. We have tons of fun together, hosting parties, shopping, and going out on the town for dinner or coffee. But sometimes we need to just sit next to each other in our power wheelchairs and talk through our weakness, pain, and frustrations, and remind each other how our common faith in God gives us hope and purpose.
What we can control
“There’s the fear of progression,” Regina admitted a few weeks ago, “because we’ve lost so much already, and we know we’re gonna lose more, and we can’t get it back — not until we get to heaven.”
“It’s hard to stay content and thankful for something we are able to do, because eventually we find that we aren’t able to do it anymore,” I said, recalling a previous conversation we’d had. “And while other people can work on getting stronger or faster or healthier, those are things we don’t have a lot of control over.”
“Yeah,” Regina drawled in her spectacular Brooklyn accent, “but what do we have control over? We can control what we let our minds think about and what we let our hearts believe. We gotta get our focus off of these bodies that are wasting away and focus on the things that are forever! And do we just wait around for that to happen on its own, or do we need to work at it? I mean, God can give us joy in the hard times, but we gotta trust him and let him do it, am I right? I’m thinkin’ that takes a lot of hard work, but it’s the kinda work we can do! Am I makin’ any sense?”
I think my friend is making a lot of sense. In her classic Regina style, she is inspiring and challenging me toward a new resolution: building stronger faith and hope.
As a goal to work toward, I think it looks a lot like daily exercise, similar to a physical workout. Stretching out my faith means that I choose to trust more and be less stubborn and proud. Strengthening my hope means that I add more weight to it by believing that even greater things are possible and courageously pursuing them. And intentional, steady practice means I can develop endurance, flexibility, and even “muscle memory.”
My hope is that these habits will improve my approach to obstacles and my response to challenges, and that by this time next year, my heart, mind, and spirit will be stronger, bigger, and better than ever!
Note: SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of SMA News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to spinal muscular atrophy.
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