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Trying to Avoid Focusing on Myself
Fighting cancer while reminding myself that other people also struggle
I was diagnosed with metastatic brain cancer in April of 2021. That suddenly defined my life. Not because I wanted it to, but because dealing with it suddenly took up huge chunks of my life.
I remember talking to older people throughout my life and being exasperated because their conversations seem to focus on a few topics. I hated how they often seemed to fixate on their ailments.
To be fair, this is not just older people — I’ve had younger friends, some just in their 20s, who are focused on negativity — whether health complaints or some other issue.
None of this makes someone popular.
I know this.
Yet, now that I am dealing with cancer, I find myself often veering in the same direction.
When people ask me how I am doing, it’s hard for me not to tell them about my latest cancer test results or treatment options I am trying to help with residual pain.
To be fair, friends often WANT to know. They genuinely care about me and so they ask.
However, am I also showing them how much I care about them?
