Let’s play a game. I’m going to say a word, and you have to write down the first 3 related words that pop into your head. Okay, you don’t even have to write them down, just take notice of them. Ready?
Cancer.
I bet I can guess the words that instantly sprung to your mind.
Death. Sick. Chemo. Sad. Maybe you thought of a loved one who lost their battle. I’m going to go all out and say majority of you did not have any positive feelings when thinking of that word.
Yes, I am calling cancer a ‘word’ – because that’s all it is.
My experience with cancer was pretty distant up to a couple of months ago. I lost an aunty to cancer last year, and I’ve heard many stories of sufferers losing their battles. I’ve donated to cancer charities and said how much it sucks that there ‘isn’t a cure’.
Two months ago I hated that word. My family and I went through the motions of linking that word to the other horrible words listed above.
It just goes to show the power of words.
I imagine that if I was told my Dad ‘was sick, but would get better after some medicine and an operation’ my reaction to his diagnosis would not be anywhere near as bad as being told ‘your Dad has cancer and needs weeks of chemo and radiation, then a big surgery to get through it.’
If there was no mention of success rates, of awful side effects, of what could go wrong, then I’m certain the stress and depression experienced by those close to my Dad wouldn’t have been nearly as bad.
People ask me all the time how I can be so happy given my life’s circumstances.
I ask them what I have to be sad about.
They respond with the obvious – your Dad has cancer.
Yes, he does. But he’s going to beat it. He has taken to treatment really well. He is fit, strong and the healthiest he has been. If he was an old 90 year old woman, or a little baby, things may be different. But he isn’t.
I’ve told my friends that anyone in my family could easily justify becoming ‘depressed’ and angry at the world. We could easily turn our backs on our loved ones, on our faith, on happiness, because we have been dealt with a tough time. But you know what? That’s life.
The last thing I want is to be sad day in and out, to ask why this happened to my family, to hate on the world. Why waste so much energy when it’s much more productive being positive, thankful, and hopeful?
Yes I have my bad days. My whole family does, especially Dad. I am so impressed with how well Dad is taking things. He is taking each day as it comes, and looking on the positive. Even when treatment was making him really sick, he was saying ‘well, imagine what it’s doing to the tumour!’
It’s so easy to complain and ask why, but that’s not going to get anyone very far. My family and I have started going to church again. I’ve taken up meditation and practicing mindfulness. We juice vegetables to give our bodies the nutrients they deserve. We have a positive outlook on things.
I’ve become more aware of the ‘complainers’ and ‘whingers’ in my life, and while I’m not going to stop them living the life they choose, it really puts things in perspective. Too many people are oblivious to how lucky they are to be living the life they live. Too many people are so quick to criticise rather than apologise or forgive. It seems people would rather be sad and depressed than happy and positive. That can’t be good for you emotionally, spiritually and physically.
I’m going to end this post with a saying that really struck a chord with me – and I hope it will help put things in your life into perspective when you’re having an off-day.
Cancer. It’s a word, not a sentence.
The C-Word 