Believe it or not, quite a few of the residual effects of surviving cancer are positive. But one negative (maybe I just haven’t evolved enough yet to see it as a positive), is that one becomes acutely aware of just how fragile and temporary our health (defined as the absence of disease) is… You are constantly aware that your current phase of health is transient. It will end. And you’ll eventually be sick and back in the hospital (I’m sorry folks, but this is coming for all of us). And when you are there, you’ll desperately wish for the time you had when you weren’t sick. I know, because I’ve been there. I guess it’s kind of a blessing in a way. Most people are blissfully unaware of what’s coming, which I suppose is as it should be. It’s a protective mechanism. But once you’ve had to reckon with the very real possibility of your imminent diseased deterioration and death, had that dreadful moment when your oncologist says “I’m sorry, but the news isn’t good,” everything changes. You become more grateful for your time, but more acutely and painfully aware that it won’t last. It’s a gift and a curse.
I guess I’m just saying, be grateful for every minute you’ve got. The reality is that it’s eventually coming to an end.
Better get busy…