I’d like to wish each of you a Christmas full of laughter, good health and happiness. After all, when you laugh, your heart laughs with you and you become full of happiness. If you ever get hooked on anything, happiness is the best drug.
I played independent softball in my mid-20s, and I was constantly being asked what I was taking. They wanted what I was on. I’d always tell them I was happy on life. It doesn’t come in liquid or pill form and can’t be bought with a prescription. Too bad! That’d be a medicine you could take more than directed and not overdose. One or two tablets or a teaspoon of liquid would have tremendous results.
Needless to say, there’d still be people who are obsessed with being sick and refuse to take it. You know who are—the constant whiners on self-pity or having multiple unnecessary surgeries. There are so many self-inflicted obsessions. One of the most effective ways of not getting better is imply because you don’t want to!
More often than not, you’ll find yourself asking the same question over and over: “How do you do it?” The answer is in the question. That little word “do” is an action word. How you apply yourself could very well be the source of your problem. After all, the story about the “Little Engine That Could” would have never been written if he hadn’t kept trying. It wasn’t easy for him either. But we all know the results.
So I’d like to say to the ones who have asked that question, pattern yourself after that little red engine and just do it!
Having a counselor is very costly, so you can just leave my money at the office of this paper. After all, we often hear how nothing is free. I’d like for anything I might write to be a positive influence in your life and to help motivate you somehow. Whether it helps or not, I do it for free in a newspaper that’s free.
Those of you who may remember my articles last year on my “Unknown Journey” know about my breast cancer and the chemo and radiation treatments I had to take. There’s something after the fact I hadn’t realized I’d be living with. Every bump, lump or pain causes fear that my cancer has returned in the same breast or the fear that it’s come back at a different location.
Thank goodness I don’t dwell on it every day, but the times I have a fear about it are the most overwhelming and terrifying experience. I recently felt a knot in my breast but thought my imagination had gotten the best of me. I went from, “It’s probably nothing,” to, “But what if it is?” within a couple of seconds.
After a delayed doctor’s appointment, a mammogram and a needle biopsy, the results came back negative. It was something related to the radiation I’d taken. While waiting for the results, I’d already decided I’d take all those treatments again, but I wasn’t liking the thought of it. Thank God I didn’t have to.
Even the relief is greater than it was before having cancer. It’s changed my thinking process, but I still would do what must be done. Life is simply facing facts, taking action, appreciating and, first and foremost, having God as your No. 1 friend. He will never leave or forsake you.
You’ll be hearing from me next year. It’s been fun. Just find me under, “My Take on This.” Until then, thanks for your nice comments. Have a very good Christmas and happy New Year!
