Working

Living and working go hand in hand.  Work comes in all shapes and sizes, but it’s important to keep working on something, even if your not paid for it, just to keep your clock ticking.   Work is my way of convincing myself that I’m not finished yet.  I worry that if I stop working on something, then my cells will turn the lights off; I don’t want that.  I’ve known several people over the years that passed away right after their retirement party.  That has to be the worst retirement benefit anyone could ever get.  Just bake me a nice vanilla sheet cake instead; thanks.   In my mind work simply means regular activity with a purpose.  Work, however, is not sitting in a chair all day watching TV and having news opinions spoon fed to you; that’s just being lazy.  Think more like an actual job, volunteering at the nursing home, watching your grandchildren, robbing the local credit union; activities that are often not easy, but bring other people value through your effort.  After I had chemotherapy in 2004 I would go back to the office and start my day like any other day with goals, objectives, things to do.  I did that because I believed it not just helped my recovery, but more important it gave a message to employees that work, although hard, creates value.  

For me I still work professionally, but not at the same pace of several years ago.  I spent nearly four decades working in hospitals and physician offices, so it’s ironic that I’m now spending many of my days as a patient in hospitals and physician offices.  You reap what you sow I guess.  Given my personal experience, though, I’m probably one of the most understanding and thankful patients that caregivers will ever run into.  My work today is mostly explaining to family and friends that common mistakes occur in healthcare and forgetting coffee on the meal tray is not malpractice.

One new work function for me is writing this blog each week.  I don’t like illness support groups on social media; they’re simply depressing.  So, I set out to put a twist on it and make it more real with self depreciating humor tied to life stories.  After starting a friend of mine asked me if I was worried someone would be offended by my lighter attitude towards cancer.  I’m not concerned, since if someone is offended by me making fun of myself, then I’m offended they’re offended of me offending myself.  Right?  I’m only smart enough to pour piss out of boot, so it’s a long road; whatever.  My only goal was to make at least one person feel better about their situation in life and give them hope when often there is none.  To my surprise, I’ve received hundreds of appreciation notes from friends and strangers alike saying my posts help them or people they know face fears and give them strength they didn’t know they had.  Although I’ve leaped over that low bar I set last year, I’ll keep at it as long as it doesn’t get stale and continues allowing people to discover missing hope.  Hopefully, I didn’t just offend someone for being too positive, but thankfully, I am not aware of any statues of me to tear down.  Slainte.