Cancer freedoms

Options
darCraig
darCraig Member Posts: 87
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I don't know what else to call this, but I'm wondering what everyone has let them selves off the hook for, or given themselves permission to, after their cancer diagnosis.  Here's some from my list:

We are going on a family vacation to Disneyland, we are not going to wait until the perfect time, till there are no other bills etc.  We are going.

I no longer need to spend time with people who don't care about me, and who annoy me besides.  No more once a year luncheons with my husband's cousins for me!

AND. time is too short to not have time for those I love, to not call, to not say "I love you and you are important to me" and to SHOW it.

I love the Garth Brooks song "if tomorrow never comes".

None of us knows if tomorrow will come.  The "gift" of being diagnosed with cancer is that that is REAL to me, and it guides the decisions I make in my life.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Morgan513
    Morgan513 Member Posts: 664
    edited October 2010

    Amen!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • lovemygarden
    lovemygarden Member Posts: 342
    edited October 2010

    I too no longer feel pressured to spend time with people I don't really like to be around, or to attend social functions that don't appeal to me. I used to do both of those things out of a sense of politeness or others' expectations or because I cared too much about what others thought of me (often all of the above, LOL).

    Also, because of the appearance changes brought on by hair loss and a BMX/no recon, I've become more adventuresome in choosing clothes than I was before. Things that I never thought I'd like, or look good in, when I had boobs have now become not only options but favorites.

    I found a great t-shirt screenprinted with a cat-with-attitude on the front, and underneath it says 

    I don't wanna,

    I don't have ta,

    I AIN'T GONNA!

    My new mantra  Tongue out

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IsThisForReal
    IsThisForReal Member Posts: 384
    edited October 2010

    There are some changes I've made in my life since having this dx - they are -

    1. I no longer care what people think about me, this is my life and I will live it how I choose.  I'm done trying to please people out of politeness.

    2. That being said, if someone says anything snarky to me, I will have something or other to say back, particularily with one coworker and my boss.  They don't get to commment on my health.  Period.

    3. Certain family members have become much more important to me.  I am now taking the time, as they are also, to connect, converse and visit often.  These people are everything and are number 1 priority.

    4. I've always wanted to buy jeans with the holes in them...you know...but never did because I thought I was too old (47).  The heck with it, I bought them and they are now my fav jeans!

    Lovemygarden -  I LOVE your new mantra!  Could I borrow it plz?  :-)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • darCraig
    darCraig Member Posts: 87
    edited October 2010

    Way to go!  I

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • 1Athena1
    1Athena1 Member Posts: 6,696
    edited August 2013

    Ohhh, the freedom of cancer!! I have let go of all the Protestant crap one grows up with, such as "be thankful that...." or "at least you tried...." or "what counts is the effort" or "there are two sides to everything." 

    I either like it or I don't. I don't care about effort; I want results. There are not two sides, there are fifty and I only want one. I don't have time to fiddle and I will take the easy route when and if it pleases me. The concept of guilt is DEAD.

    No, I haven't turned into a sociopath - lol!  I have just edited out the stuff and nonsense in my life. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories