- October 24, 2018
- Living with Cancer Blog
By Jon B
Pat at Wellspring asked me if I have any advice that I would like to pass along to others who are living with cancer. Here are points I had to offer:
- If you think you’re prepared financially – double it – this is how you stand a chance at looking after yourself and the people you love. Doing this can make the difference between having to go out and find a job when you’re sick, versus spending your time with family and friends, or taking programs at Wellspring.
- Reach out. You might think you can do it yourself, but you can’t. Reach out. You need friends, family and you need Wellspring. Take what’s offered. Call the hotline if you have to. Find someone to talk to.
- Never give up. Everyone is alive until you die. You might live to be 80 or you might get hit by a truck tomorrow – no one knows for sure. You can’t live every day like it’s your last because it’s probably not – but really try to enjoy the ride. And no matter how bad you feel – no matter how much things can suck sometimes – ride it out, there’s happiness around the corner.
- You owe this to yourself. To find joy in life. This really came for me when I learned to replace fear with love. That’s when I got some joy back.
2 Responses
Needed that today. One secret is to see something joyful each day.
I love what you wrote. I’m going to print this out and keep it to read again when I need encouragement, or my mom or dad needs a few words to keep them going. Dealing with my dad’s stage 4 cancer over the past two years has been a real roller coaster. I look forward to future posts from you, Jon, they are so insightful and helpful.