I diverge today

I know I said this wouldn't be about cancer.  It is about goals and dreams.  However, this morning in my inbox was an email that I subscribe to for a closed group.  It is a group dedicated to Stage IV Breast Cancer patients.  I don't participate much in the group, but I do read the emails.  Generally, they meet at a time and location that is not convenient for me. But I do appreciate the encouragement and the ability to ask questions of people who are on the same cruise ship as me.

In today's summary of emails was a post about a group member who passed away this week after her battle with cancer.  Usually I don't know the person and this was the case today.  However, there was a link to her blog and since I am new to this blogging, I clicked on it to read.

As I opened it up it started with a blurb about herself and her cancer.  She was diagnosed in October 2010 (like me) with Stage IV, she was in shock, like most of us are when we here that news, but she planned to Kick Cancer's A**.  The quick blurb felt like she was attacking cancer with the same attitude that I would like to think that I am.  I try to live each day kicking cancer in the a**.  It sucks, but it is the hand I was dealt, and I am going to bluff my way through this and try to win the game.

I scrolled through some of her posts and although our situations are/were different (she had mets to organs, not just bones) I felt like I would have really enjoyed getting to know her.  Based on her blog, she seemed to be upbeat right to the end.  In fact she had created a post as late as June 14th in which she seemed to be positive about how she was doing and what she was doing.  Her last post was about a fund raiser for the Breast Cancer Research Center (BCRC) which is a non profit that helps those diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  They have patient navigators to help anyone that contacts them to understand the process and even go to doctor appointments with you.  I personally have not used their resources because I have a great personal support system through family, friends and church, but I have heard really great things about this organization.  (If you are looking for a charity to donate to, I would appreciate you looking into this organization).

This blog and the attitude of this lady that I did not know really struck me today.  It made me realize that my goal that I set earlier this week is even more important to me.  None of us know how long we have the gift of life.  So appreciate each day, appreciate the people in your life and don't sweat the small stuff.  Please realize that each of us comes with a set of baggage at every encounter and we may not know what that may be.  But please, be encouraging, instead of discouraging; pleasant instead of rude; and leave every encounter with others with the feeling that you won't regret the interaction if it happens to be the last you may have with them.

Thanks for reading