I was feeling a bit self-conscious about my earlier post about happiness. I have many friends–good, close friends I love who have battled cancer, had breasts or lumps or malignant cells removed, had chemo, or supported their spouses while enduring treatment–and I have a close friend whose mom has Alzheimer’s and a close friend whose dad has ALS.
In no way, did I want to make light of these life-threatening, un-happy-making situations. There’s nothing happy about them, and simply deciding to be happy isn’t easy. I didn’t in any way mean to imply that it is.
Nobody has complained about what I had to say; it’s not that. I just wanted to comment on it all because those overwhelming life situations don’t make deciding to be happy an easy choice. I had been thinking about all of this, feeling self-conscious, and talked to my friends David and Rachael Hanel and Danielle Mitchell about all this when we were on a bike ride a couple weeks ago. Danielle, sports physician and researcher, told me I should not feel bad. She said that even terminal patients–those with no hope of recovery–have that choice, too. Choosing happiness and choosing to have a positive attitude, even in the face of death, has an effect of great magnitude. Sooo… I rest my case. And I do, forever, want to choose happiness. Whatever spins life throws me.
Becky, you did not offend my family who has been living under the word “terminal” for a long time. Bills’ mom had the same disease and the treatments were awful and quality of life was nil.BIll chose no treatments for the cancer but for the other diseases that along from it. The reason was simple-happiness! He wanted some of his time left to be able to enjoy his grandkids and he accomplished it.we were happy for the most of it. I figured there would be plenty of time for sadness after. And there is. I think all the years are coming in one big quake for me. Never apologize for your thoughts, someone out there agrees with you.
Thank you, Linda. Your response her brought tears to my eyes. I’m glad it didn’t offend you in any way. I thought about you when I felt self-conscious. I’m glad you know you are loved by friends and family as you travel this “quake.” I’m glad Bill chose the best way to spend his time…to enjoy as much as possible. I’ve thought about that a lot, and I think I would choose the same. Sending giant hugs. Thank you so much for this response, Linda. Love you!