I wrote this piece 5 months after I was diagnosed and 4
months after my surgery
Cancer changes things!
I am the middle child. I am the sibling that was always dressed like the older sibling. I remember the oldest and I wearing matching red corduroy overalls. People thought we were twins for the longest time. I then got paired with the youngest, a girl, matching dotted-swiss dresses; you wouldn't and couldn't catch me in a dress after the age of 12. I did approximately 1 hour in a dress for high school graduation. I am the rebel of the family. I’m the fighter of the family. Both titles I love to hold. The rebel is not born out of a state of angst or distrust of authority. When I use the term rebel, it means that I have a definitive sense of right and wrong and I will speak on it even if it means I will take a beating for my opinion. The p.c. term for my rebel is “social justice.” The fighter title is the progression of the rebel. I’m the type of person that you would have to pack a lunch for; meaning, if you start with me you best be equipped for the long haul. I approach many aspect of my life with the same tenacity. I bite and I hold on for the ride. I often joke that pit bulls come to me for lessons. My two favorite baseball caps have characters that depict my personality, the Tasmanian devil or the bull dog. I enjoyed being a fighter….but as the title says Cancer changes things!
I was diagnosed on June 15, 2009 and have since obtained a “clean bill of health.” The fighter is still very much a part of me but now the battle is different. I will still fight for social justice. I will still defend your rights but it is now balanced with a fight to stay healthy, centered and stress free.
I think about all the times I let little things upset me. I think about all the little things that I've fixated on and I've come to realize (cancer taught me) that these are things that I've allowed to displace joy. I could have used that time to stop and enjoy the things that God has blessed me with. I could have been about the business of loving my family and friends. I could have used the time living, laughing and loving. Everything prior to June 15th of this year matters little. What is important today is that I will not allow little things to rob me of the joy that I am now experiencing…..so again keep in mind that cancer changes things (sometimes for the better!)
I am the middle child. I am the sibling that was always dressed like the older sibling. I remember the oldest and I wearing matching red corduroy overalls. People thought we were twins for the longest time. I then got paired with the youngest, a girl, matching dotted-swiss dresses; you wouldn't and couldn't catch me in a dress after the age of 12. I did approximately 1 hour in a dress for high school graduation. I am the rebel of the family. I’m the fighter of the family. Both titles I love to hold. The rebel is not born out of a state of angst or distrust of authority. When I use the term rebel, it means that I have a definitive sense of right and wrong and I will speak on it even if it means I will take a beating for my opinion. The p.c. term for my rebel is “social justice.” The fighter title is the progression of the rebel. I’m the type of person that you would have to pack a lunch for; meaning, if you start with me you best be equipped for the long haul. I approach many aspect of my life with the same tenacity. I bite and I hold on for the ride. I often joke that pit bulls come to me for lessons. My two favorite baseball caps have characters that depict my personality, the Tasmanian devil or the bull dog. I enjoyed being a fighter….but as the title says Cancer changes things!
I was diagnosed on June 15, 2009 and have since obtained a “clean bill of health.” The fighter is still very much a part of me but now the battle is different. I will still fight for social justice. I will still defend your rights but it is now balanced with a fight to stay healthy, centered and stress free.
I think about all the times I let little things upset me. I think about all the little things that I've fixated on and I've come to realize (cancer taught me) that these are things that I've allowed to displace joy. I could have used that time to stop and enjoy the things that God has blessed me with. I could have been about the business of loving my family and friends. I could have used the time living, laughing and loving. Everything prior to June 15th of this year matters little. What is important today is that I will not allow little things to rob me of the joy that I am now experiencing…..so again keep in mind that cancer changes things (sometimes for the better!)
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