The title of this article has been borrowed from a poster I saw and it so much represents what I wanted to express that I felt justified in using it.

I am suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis in which the joints of the body are affected by a progressive destructive process and may, in some cases, lead to severe crippling. I had the first attack eleven years ago, when I was thirteen years old and studying in class nine. At that time I didn't know the seriousness of this disease and was rather unconcerned and optimistic, as they say ignorance is bliss.

It was three years later in 1985 when my condition worsened and gradually all my joints were involved. Getting up in the morning was more like nightmare with my joints stiff and aching. A minor task like picking up a glass seemed impossible. Inevitably, I became dependent upon my hair, bathing, buttoning my shirt, etc.

In the meantime, I continued with my studies. I was in pre-medical. It was at that time that I felt self-pity and depression engulfed me. I stopped socializing and restricted my activities to attending college and studying only.

I appeared for the medical entrance examination and fortunately I cleared it. But that didn't give me much pleasure, because I realized then that I would have to stay in the hostel. Before that there was another hurdle to cross the medical fitness examination. I was sure that I would be declared medically unfit. By God's grace, however I managed to pass undetected.

Then was the tough part � staying in the hostel and managing alone. With a heavy heart, I joined medical college knowing that I wouldn't last even a week let alone five years.

Within the first few days, I met Sona Bedi, one of the seniors who were ragging me. Co-incidentally, she too, was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and her condition was much worse than mine. She has been one of the greatest inspirations in my life. I have yet to see a more cheerful disposition, a person simply brimming with life as if saying that I have come to enjoy life and enjoy it, I will, to the fullest, no matter what! Looking at her I literally straightened my sagging back. I emerged from the concern of despair and hopelessness and discovered a different aspect of life, a more beautiful aspect.

A year passed thus, with me gradually shedding off my self-consciousness and gaining confidence I (still had to ask people to do tasks for me, though). I started treatment with Dr. A N Malviya at AIIMS. I responded to the treatment, but deformities at most of my joints had become permanent, with great limitation of movement. Osteoarthritis had set in at my knee joints especially the left, so that I could not flex or extend it while walking and had to limp.

I became a doctor in 1991 land got a house job at Dr. RML Hospital, Delhi. I went for my medical examination and miraculously I was declared fit again.

I started preparing for my post graduation. With God's help, I passed the exam, Choosing the PG subject was a dilemma, because I wanted to do psychiatry or Medicine, but keeping my health in view I had to opt for less strenuous choices like Pathology and Radiology. At times like that I used to feel that God was rather unfair to have given me the choice to choose my future and yet there was no choice at all.

I got Radiology and realized how ungrateful I was. It was the topmost choice those days and I was cribbing, because I had got it. God was not unfair to me, but was rather favoring me unashamedly. It was as if He had given me a burden to carry for some distance and was now removing all hurdles in front of me, so that I may cross unhindered. Not all people are as fortunate as I am.

I am a much better person now, than I was ten years ago. I am better, because I have experienced pain and infirmity; I have known fear and depression I have felt anger at what I thought was injustice; I have been plagued by uncertainty, under confidence, inferiority complex and self-consciousness and I have conquered most of them. Now I feel pleasure at the little ordinary jobs I can accomplish myself. I am glad when I can get up from bed in the morning; I feel proud when I comb my own hair; I am grateful when I climb down the stairs (however painfully) and walk the little distance to the hospital and at night when I lie down to sleep I send up a prayer of thanks that I have been able to live usefully another day of life. I have sampled the vast array of emotions that life has to offer and am now weathered and hardened, so that I may face the future with my head held high.

God has chosen a few tough people who he knows will be able to cross the stream of life with fewer aids than others. Hence the disabled people. They don't need roses in their paths. They can carry a burden and still keep up with others. They are the tough ones, who will survive tough times and emerge victorious.