What you are alluding to is called distraction.

Distraction works quite well....no one should BE their disease.

Staying busy and goal orientated helps a lot...dwelling on your disease does not.

As with all things in life, balance is important.

Distraction is an excellent way to cope with pain, just don't ignore things such as broken bones, like I did...

Live life large....be who you aspire to be, who you want to be, regardless of what ails you...

No person is ever their disease....we are folks who for whatever reason, got this problem...it should never be our whole life.

That said, I am not going kiteskiing again....

but there are plenty of other things that beckon me still...I just have to make sure I stay realistically optimistic, and believe in myself. I haven't let myself down yet...what is a missing finger here and there, right?

You have some darn good weather downunder.....ever thought of a kite? If not, sounds like you are primed to buy one.