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I’m trying to be careful about this blog becoming all about cancer, when it’s supposed to be about life. I guess that for many of us however, cancer is a way of life, but I’m one of the lucky ones. Diagnosed early and treated quickly, that’s me sorted – out the other end of the medical mill with 5 years of Tamoxifen and checkups to make sure it’s not come back (gulp), and ‘Bye, see you next time’. And that’s good, don’t misunderstand me, because there are other scenarios which I’m glad I don’t have to deal with.
However, the system is now chucking me back and expecting me to do something. Hey – I’M expecting me to do something. And I do – loads of it. Trouble is that it’s not very focused and it’s not particularly productive in the cash department. I had a very interesting meeting this week with one of the Directors of Kleeneze, Michael Khatkar, and he unwittingly solved my problem. He was talking about goal setting and how you need the motivation of a tangible and tummy curdling goal to kick start you into big action and keep you going. Michael suggested sitting down with a blank piece of paper and writing out goals; how much monthly income was needed to get them; and to set a plan to achieve them in a realistic time scale. I know that’s bog standard stuff to many, but I think he may have solved my problem.
When I was diagnosed with cancer, all my dreams and aspirations melted and were remoulded as staying alive, supporting my family and getting through the operation and treatment, etc. After all, what use is a trip around the world, or a Jaccuzzi in the back parlour, when you’re too ill to enjoy it, or you’re dead? The trouble is that’s where I still am and my goals continue to be about survival, not a bed wetting zoom towards a rip roaring life with the adrenalin tingling in the scalp.
Yes, every day is precious. Yes, I’m very lucky. Yes, there’s more to life than money. Trouble is that no one is served by me being poor and living out a humdrum day to day survival of appreciation that ‘it could all have been a lot worse‘ and ‘arn’t I lucky‘, ‘stop being greedy‘. And, here’s the biggy – what’s the point of thrumping away to achieve a goal in 5-years time if I’m not going to be here?
Hell, I could step in front of a bus tomorrow, and it’s not going to veer off course just because I had a lump in my boob – so why should I veer off course just because I had a lump in my boob? Unless my biggest achievement from this point on is going to be surviving breast cancer, and I’m not sure that can sustain me for the next 40 years, then it’s time to get back to where I was with my goals, aspirations and accomplishments. Oh, and to have a bit of fun for goodness sake.
Now, where’s that paper……
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- Goal Setting Articles & Tips, Forms, Worsheets and Tools (goalsontrack.com)
Related posts:
- Did I Take Tamoxifen?
- Should I take Tamoxifen?
- Tick Tock Tamoxifen
- You’d Better Come Home, Mum’s Got A Lump In Her Tit
- Bugger A Work-Life Balance
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