“Happy, Happy Birthday”
Hey my friends, hoping each of you are doing very well. I have decided that “very well” is often our choice. We get to decide what very well would be for ourselves each day. Terminal cancer has given me the opportunity to work on that. Walking through this has given me a new perspective on my birthday. I am very grateful to still be alive.
Quickly before I share a few thoughts. On December 3rd we are having our “5k Run”! This will be the second one and I did not believe there was anyway I would be around for the 2nd run! The registration is now open and hoping you can join us. Here is the website for information and registration. https://runsignup.com/Race/TX/Denton/LiveaLegacySanta5k
The last two years have given me several different perspectives on life. I honestly never cared much for my birthday. I was always glad to be living well and was reminded of some important things in my life but saw no reason to make it public or do much celebrating. My terminal brain cancer changed that perspective.
I have said this many times. No one chooses when we will come into this life and the normal way is, we don’t choose when we will leave this life. This journey has given me a different perspective on my life and a deeper perspective on all the joy and blessings of my life. I have honestly been aware of those but not the same way I am today. My life has been amazing and such a gift!
I wonder sometimes if people think I have made some of this up. Glioblastoma is a very aggressive cancer that takes peoples life in 6-18 months. I am 24 months into this and feeling the best I have felt since that surgery 20 months ago. I am in a small, small percentage of people that make it this long. So grateful for that!!!!
Today is my 59th birthday. My mindset is slowly changing. Who knows, maybe I will be around celebrating 60 a year from know. This journey continues to remind me of something I so often shared with the people I was counseling with. “No one knows how long we have, FOCUS ON TODAY!” Amen!!!!
So today…. I walked 3.5 miles this morning, sitting in Starbucks drinking my free coffee and writing this, lunch with my amazing daughter and son in-law, a workout this afternoon and then dinner with my beautiful wife and some dear friends. Life is good!
My wonderful children got me something very special for my birthday. Something I have never had. A record player, with nice speakers and several record albums. I love music and lost that for 4-5 months after my surgery. It has been back and can’t say how special music is to me these days. Gifts like that mean so much more today than they ever have!
So what about you? Are you living more in day to day. I know for many of you, life is hard. You are dealing with personal stuff, challenges with a spouse or family. Life was not designed to be easy. How we walk through and navigate life matters. It matters very, very much.
I have shared my stories not to say you should each be looking at or learning from me. I do share my experiences hoping it can encourage some and help you look a little closer at your own life. That really is the only life we have some genuine control of.
Remember,,,,,,,,, You are “LOVED and of GREAT VALUE.”
Peace,
