You Have a Choice

(Written with Lori Kayser’s brain and heart – no AI)

How do you respond to adversity, challenge, uncertainty and the complexities of life? I know, I know… A loaded question AND a very important one to ponder. You have a choice. You always have a choice. Do you want to feel peace, serenity, freedom and wholeness in your life or chaos, frustration, fear and separateness? The following quote by Victor Frankl has been instrumental in supporting me in answering this question.

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”             ~Victor Frankl

A cancer diagnosis is frightening and unsettling. For many, the experience creates tremendous challenge, fear and uncertainty. This is a normal response to one’s mortality being questioned. Tony and I have talked over the years about how we can best respond to our cancer diagnoses and the effects that treatment has had and has in our lives. We’ve always settled on this fact… We have a choice.

Our dear friend, Ned Grossman, lost his first wife to pancreatic cancer. Ned has written two books about how to succeed in life and is known for his Nedisms and butterflies to honor his late wife. You know you’ve run into to Ned if you see a guy with his signature pink belt. He often takes it off to give it to a desiring stranger which I’ve witnessed many times. Ned’s been through a lot of hard stuff as most of us have. He lives by this simple, yet profound quote,

“Focus on the things over which you have input, impact and control.” ~ Ned Grossman

Every Tuesday, I have the gift of receiving immunotherapy. This weekly treatment will be on my calendar for the rest of my life. Am I happy that I have to stick myself ten times and hook up to a pump to receive lifegiving medication? Yes. It’s a choice I make every week. I choose to be grateful there’s a medication that gives me the opportunity to live as healthy and vibrant a life as I can. I choose to focus on what I have input, impact and control over which is my attitude and how I choose to live my life – nutritious food, lots of water, sleep, exercise, healthy connections, a meaningful purpose, meditation, hobbies, etc.

None of us knows how or when we’ll die but we do have the choice of how we live our lives.

Here’s my challenge to you…

How do you choose to respond to life’s adversities, challenges, uncertainties and complexities? Choose wisely. Your peace, serenity, freedom, growth and wholeness depend on it!           `

Peace, joy and love to you and your family this holiday season.