Lessons

10 Lessons I Learned From Cancer

  1. It’s not all about me—I need help from doctors, nurses, and other human beings, especially my beautiful wife Deborah.
  2. There is a higher power in control of everything—I believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—because I have experiences with him being in control.
  3. Attitude does make a difference—I have got to be positive and think good thoughts.
  4. Even in the worst of times it helps me to do something for another human being—a telephone call, sending a card, or sending an e-mail message to someone to encourage them. Anything I can do helps me and them. In my really bad times sometimes all I can do is say a prayer, but that’s probably the most important thing I do for someone else.
  5. The key is to keep my mind under control—I focus on good things and don’t think about bad things—it’s too easy for bad things to snowball (replace the bad thought with a good one).
  6. Depend upon the people in your life—building healthy relationships with kind, loving people along the way even during a journey through an illness helps me. It’s all about people—they are so important!
  7. Never ever give up—keep hope alive in your heart, your mind, and your soul.
  8. There is peace that passes all human understanding—I just have to ask God for it.
  9. Stay engaged in your life—don’t drop out or quit participating in activities you enjoy. At the very least, just hanging out with people I care about always helps me.
  10. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else—while their accomplishments may encourage you, you may have a better outcome yet. Just do the best you can do!