I recently attended a conference sponsored and organized by the Texas Oncology Foundation. The title of the conference was “Survive & Thrive,” and the theme of the weekend was “Deep Roots-Healthy Growth.”
One of the speakers was Diana Bosse, who wrote a book called “The Perks of Having Cancer.” She writes about her own journey with cancer and how she chose to use humor to get through it. You know—kind of like what I do on a daily basis!
I know what some of you are thinking as you read this. “Debbie, come on now … stop it … there is NOTHING funny about cancer. How dare you make light of it!”
You’re right—cancer isn’t funny.
Cancer is downright ugly, toxic, and altogether icky to live with.
The point this book makes is that we choose how to react to what life has thrown at us—even cancer. We can decide to wallow in self-pity and misery, complain, and be bitter about all that it has taken from us.
Or we can choose an attitude of “so what?!”
So what if cancer has taken away some of my self-dignity and made me more dependent on others. So what if I couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time to avoid a huge, embarrassing mess. So what if cancer made me have to choose between living to work or working to live?
SO WHAT.
I can cry or laugh about it. And laughter truly is the best medicine for stress relief! In fact, a recent article in Medical News Today states that laughter triggers the release of endorphins, which create feelings of euphoria and dull pain.
So, my brain has natural painkillers designed to reduce my perception of pain and create a warm, euphoric feeling.
I have experienced this throughout my treatments, and I tell you—choosing to laugh about the digestive challenges, the brain fog, and the neuropathy made these things less intense.
They didn’t—and haven’t—ever disappeared.
I have simply decided to laugh at them and embrace my “new normal” with positivity and humor. I can’t always laugh about them when I am suffering with a migraine for three days. It’s not funny when I have to run the 50 feet to a bathroom and hope I make it before I have a bowel explosion. It’s downright embarrassing, actually.
But so what? It’s part of my life now, and I may as well accept that!
My Own Perks of Living With Cancer
With that laughter, I have also chosen to see what perks cancer has given me in my own life.
I have saved a lot of money on cosmetics and hair care!
I can eat whatever sounds good and not have to feel guilty.
After all, I already have Stage 4 cancer!
I have a very visible tattoo on my forearm because I don’t have a career that frowns upon that type of expression.
More seriously though, I have complete autonomy over my daily schedule.
I get to share my story with strangers and encourage them that life isn’t over with a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis. I have been given the opportunity to advocate for myself in making medical care decisions. I have unwrapped the gift of saying “no” without giving any more explanation.
Those things, my dear readers, are truly gifts I may not have opened without cancer forcing me on my own treasure hunt. For those things, I am grateful.
Don’t get me wrong—I will NEVER be thankful that I have cancer. There are days that I still grieve parts of the life I used to have. But I can’t go back in time; I can only move forward.
I choose to LIVE my life with as much grace, humor, and purpose as I can muster!
My Challenge to You
What challenges has life thrown at you that make you question your purpose? A job loss, a divorce, a wayward child, financial difficulties—all these things can threaten your very identity. Instead of giving in to the weight of those hardships, I beg you to find the deeper meaning and purpose of your life. God created each of us uniquely for a reason, and it’s up to us to discover what that is.
As you define your own identity and purpose, you will find that it’s much easier to go forth and be exceptional. You can even laugh along the way!
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