Life's Negotiations

A friend is writing a great series of posts on Curing the Incurable - lessons she learned from curing herself of Lupus. 

I'm immensely inspired by her, as well as reminded of my own journey with a benign brain tumor five years ago.  

The cause was different, but the lesson is the same:  We are each the cure to whatever ails us.

I remember sitting in the doctor's office, looking at the chart with my tumor and feeling my own mortality for the first time at age 29. 

Not long after I decided that if I had to go through with this, I had a choice of how I did it. It was like a switch went off - I decided that I could make the best of this situation with every part of me. 

From that moment on, I was worried, but I also reveled in buying lounge wear for after my surgery, made an appointment for a massage on the day before, laughed and joked with every nurse and doctor I came in contact with - even when I was in pain. They were there to help me, and I knew I would make their job (and mine) easier by being as open as I could to what was coming.

When I hurt, I cried. When I got tired of the hospital stays and the medicine and the seemingly-unending feeling of being the patient, I got angry and distraught. I was real through it all - and I enjoyed as much of it as possible. There is a way to do both.

Reading Mary's series I'm reminded of my positive attitude reflected back at me by my loved ones and the nurses. I celebrated every day, from washing my hair to crossing the street by myself for the first time. It felt like experiencing childhood as an adult, where the simplest things are amazing and new. 

I treasure those parts for helping me be the person I am today. My life coaching work is a direct result, as is my photography. 

Have you had a similar experience? Or, do you want support for your own journey? Either way, I know at least two of us eager to lend an ear.