Living In The Now Is Tough For Survivors
It’s harder than you think to live in the Now when you’re waiting for a test result or doctor’s appointment. Of course, it makes perfect sense and we all want to do it but practicing this illusive art takes dedication, commitment, and patience.
Recently illuminated by Oprah’s discovery of Eckhart Tolle’s books, The Power of Now and A New Earth, these are ancient concepts. They stem from the notion that we spend most of our consciousness either worrying about what hasn’t happened or regretting what already did, thereby completely missing what’s happening now.
For those who live with cancer, it is the norm. Between getting in to see a specialist or waiting for the news of recurrence, we have innumerable opportunities to worry about the unknown. Unfortunately, none of it helps.
When my life became inundated with doctor visits, treatments, scans and tests, I learned that I can only control certain things on this journey; the rest is out of my hands. So if I intended to live the best life possible - considering the boundaries of my condition - I had better learn to manage how I responded to this predicament. If I did not, worrying about things out of my control would fill every waking hour.
Add A New CommentWe value and respect the experiences of all of our HerWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add A New Comment3 Comments
Thank you for this wonderful post Annette.
I can imagine how hard it is to live in the Now when dealing with cancer or other life changing (and life threatening) circumstances. It's hard to do it sometimes when healthy! So doing it while ill and scared out of your mind becomes almost an art form. Congratulations on living in the now and I hope others who battle their own demons, or all of us, really, can take a little bit of your post and apply it to our own lives.
You always seem to say what I need to hear -- this one I need to be reminded of over and over again. I'm so blessed to have a friend like you whose inner strength and genuine selflessness gives me, and others like me, the encouragement to live in the now.
Well said, Annette, well said. When you're living with cancer every day it changes your priorities. It's amazing how many things that used to seem so important are just no longer worth spending a minute on. Thanks so much for sharing this, it's very helpful.
Take good care,
Pat