This was "stolen" from my friend Kevin, but I think it shows an unusual perspective on someone who has cancer. I have never seen anyone so optimistic as well as someone with a passion to use his experience for the better. He is such an eloquent writer (good job Cornell, we will return him to you healthy!) and I wish him luck with his bone marrow transplant. He has had such a long journey yet has maintained a sense of peace and faith despite many challenges. Get well soon Kevin!
Life is always a rollercoaster, but this last month has brought more stomach-stealing drops than I would have liked. But I must say, the views it’s provided have been truly amazing and enlightening. I’ve learned more valuable lessons in the past month than in my two years at Cornell (at the very least).
When faced with my own mortality, I learned to view life through a different lens. I learned what’s worth fearing, and what’s not worth my emotion – and cancer falls into the latter category. It may be that I’ve been prepped for it because I’ve lived with cancer – and seen the positive side of it – for most of my life, but I don’t fear it anymore. I think cancer, for most people, is a 6-letter word to be avoided in most conversations. I believe otherwise – cancer is another fact of life, one that brings about change in the same way moving to a new city or starting a new career brings change. There are hardships, there are good times, but in the end it’s a learning experience. I’ve learned about humanity – and the goodness that lives inside each and every one of us. I’ve learned that it’s ok to cry – Superman’s a myth, and each one of us is human. We can’t be expected to handle every situation with stony resolve, like a veteran Marine. I’ve learned about what’s important, and what’s just a waste of time. Cancer is the latter. While I don’t expect to get through the rest of this ordeal without any hiccups, overall it’s nothing but a speed bump in the road of life. And there’s no sense in worrying about what could happen, because health isn’t just medicine.
Positive attitudes go a long way.
I’ve done my best to maintain a positive attitude, though for the most part it’s come naturally. I guess I just remind myself that time flows at the same rate, rain or shine, and the time will come when I’m past the bone marrow transplant and back to normal life. Yes, my hair will grow back (though I’ve been told quite often that I look good bald). But in the end, I’ll be who I was before – and that’s what matters.
And it’s not just me that benefits from this. My dream has been to help people, though I’ve always been at a loss as to how to do that. I think this might be my chance – show people the power of a positive attitude.
And make that attitude spread like leukemia. As bad as that sounds, it’s a great example. I was thinking the other day – leukemia starts with one cell. All it takes is one mutation in one cell, and – as time inevitably flows on – that cell multiplies. What was once one cell becomes millions, billions, even into the trillions (so I’m told) and interferes with normal blood production. But that’s a negative effect. A negative attitude can have the same effect in the long run (well, maybe not affecting trillions), but so can a positive attitude. Keep that in mind the next time something’s not quite going right. Remember that time flows on – and remember what matters. Is it something you’re going to be emotional about tomorrow or the next week? Or is it something that can’t be changed and must be accepted? I’ve always tried to remember those – and remember what matters. If it’s worth the emotion tomorrow, then it’s worth it now. Conversely, if it won’t bother me tomorrow, why let it get to me now? Spread the love, not the hatred or sadness.
I know this doesn’t always work, but like I said – no one’s Superman. But it works pretty darn well the rest of the time. And I’ll settle for that.
After reading that, I think we all need to think about one thing: what experience can we use to better the world?
