Image courtesy PMC
At the age of 45, writer Regina Brett wrote a column for the Cleveland Plain Dealer listing 45 lessons that life had taught her thus far. As a breast cancer survivor, many of those lessons were learned the hard way. Five years later she added five more lessons rounding her list up to 50 and turned her popular list into a book called God Never Blinks. I found her list to be entertaining, inspiring and thought provoking. I thought I would go through each of her lessons learned and write about how that lesson has or has not come up in my own life, now that I am 40 and feel old enough to have finally learned something.
"Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger."
~ LESSON #35
Adversity provides perspective. If you are given the ability to see that perspective, it certainly can give you strength in a new frame of life.
My boss, who is more a member of my family than an employer, had what could be called a miraculous recovery from late stage prostate cancer. In addition to that battle, he also was brought back from the dead after a severe complication from undiagnosed sleep apnea. He and his family had a rough time of things for a few years there. It put a large strain on his health, his income, his emotional frame of mind and tested his resolve.
But his survival allowed him to see life from a different perspective. As each day goes by, he becomes more and more his former self. But he also retains a new outlook and demeanor that years of effort never would have created. His battle with death gave him the strength to live a fuller life.
This may be the most important of all the lessons shared so far in this series of posts. It may take all of your energy to survive adversity, illness or grief. But survival provides a renewed strength for living. It also allows the rest of us to learn that lesson through you. So thank you for your battles and for sharing your strength. Perspective is the result - don't view it lightly.
My boss, who is more a member of my family than an employer, had what could be called a miraculous recovery from late stage prostate cancer. In addition to that battle, he also was brought back from the dead after a severe complication from undiagnosed sleep apnea. He and his family had a rough time of things for a few years there. It put a large strain on his health, his income, his emotional frame of mind and tested his resolve.
But his survival allowed him to see life from a different perspective. As each day goes by, he becomes more and more his former self. But he also retains a new outlook and demeanor that years of effort never would have created. His battle with death gave him the strength to live a fuller life.
This may be the most important of all the lessons shared so far in this series of posts. It may take all of your energy to survive adversity, illness or grief. But survival provides a renewed strength for living. It also allows the rest of us to learn that lesson through you. So thank you for your battles and for sharing your strength. Perspective is the result - don't view it lightly.
8 comments:
I know exactly what you and the author are talking about. I also had a major fight for my life. When I finally came out of it and knew I was going to live a while longer, it changed so many things. The most important thing that changed was the way I looked at how I was going to spend the rest of my life. I felt that my life was spared for a reason and it wasn't to do something negative. I suspect it's what your boss has been through. I don't recommend that everybody go through a serious death threat in order to develop a better way of looking at life. There are lots of easier ways.
I can attest to the fact that this is so very true. Forged steel is the strongest.
because of what I went through a friend has turned to me for help while she goes through breast cancer...a different type, but with many of the same difficulties to deal with. I'm glad to be of help and she appreciates my perspective!
There is such wisdom in these posts. I am really enjoying reading your journey through these lessons.
it does seem to be the tougher things in life that gives us the best perspective.
I could not agree with this more!
My co-worker, Jim, just retired after battling cancer last year. A man with impeccable work-ethic and dedication to his employer, he finally figured out that life isn't about work after all--all because of his cancer scare. While I miss him dearly, I'm glad he is going to enjoy some of his life without working!
Sharing your battles with others can help you and them. You never know when someone will look to you for your experience and how good it will feel that your hardship helped someone else feel better.
Gage's health issues proved to me that I am as tough as I need to be but vulnerable enough to ask for help. The way that people reached out to me showed me how much it can mean to someone else. The outpouring of support really touched me.
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