Guest guest Posted October 28, 2000 Report Share Posted October 28, 2000 Celeste: Your thoughts are appreciated and thought-provoking as well. I think that what we need to be aware of is that even though we face an end at some point, we should take that as a LIFE sentence rather than a DEATH sentence and focus accordingly. In writing a chapter for a consumer book on coping during times of crisis, I found that the characteristics I value most in people who cope well are the ability to be present and live in the moment, having faith in something (a spiritual lodestone), practicing forgiveness, and having a good sense of humor. Working on these characteristics in ourselves is one way we can develop our coping muscles so that when a crisis occurs we are not without available internal resources. Another factor in coping is being able and willing to reach out and ask for support and assistance from others, or accept the gift of those things when offered them. So many people are stubbornly independent or feel that they are failures if they can't " go it alone " ... yet, we are all connected. Paradoxically, as you noted, the only thing we truly have control over is our attitude. Yet, how powerful that can be in affecting the lives of ourselves and those around us! Blessings, Crow " Look for Rainbows in the Darkness " celeste m sullivan wrote: > Thank you for your wise thoughts!! > > As a psychotherapist and person struggling with cancer of the spine for > 22 years, we need to accept the fact that we are all going to die of > something. When I was diagnosed and told there was nothing they could do > for me, I accepted that diagnosis and prepared to die. As time went on > with multiple questionable and experimental treatments, I am still here, > the tumors are still here but stable (not growing) and I have to create > new goals for this time in my life as my goal was to prepare for an early > death. Life is strange and we only have limited control over how our > life path develops. When we are young, the illusion of control is more > predominate, as we have not faced many of the inevitable circumstances > yet. My children are facing mid-life now, and where they once had > control, I see it slipping out of their fingers and they are surprised to > see that happen. We do have our best control when it comes to how we > will respond to the inevitables in life. Even then, our shadow has a way > of throwing us off guard and sabotaging our best efforts and intentions. > > What are the lessons we need to learn? I think one of them is that we > are not almighty, all-knowing, all-wise, etc. but that there is One Who > is that we can choose to let be the Director of our life. That does not > always mean success from our vantage point; that does not always mean > physical healing. I do believe that it does mean that there is always > the potential and pull toward growth deep within our personalities. That > is our hope! > > Celeste ____________NetZero Free Internet Access and Email_________ Download Now http://www.netzero.net/download/index.html Request a CDROM 1-800-333-3633 _________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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