Do you talk about?

I was out with a friend and he said, so now we have talked about our obligatory review of our health maybe we can talk about other things, so we did. Later I was out with some other friends and we were out talking about how people react when they are given bad medical news. I had a member of my family who had Cancer and did not tell anyone except her/his parents. One of the parents told me but I was sworn to secrecy and I held the secret until another parent brought it up in discussion over dinner. The assumption made was that I would tell my wife the news. My wife was upset when she found out and more upset that I knew and she did not, as it was a member of her side of the family. 

As we started the new conversation our friend said, "It is interesting that when some people get Cancer they don't want anyone to know." and she looked directly at her partner. I being curious and sometimes rude, turned to her partner and I asked if he had Cancer. He said "No." and while he was saying "No" she was shaking her head "Yes". So I looked at my wife and said to our friends, "What is going on, one of you is saying no and the other is saying yes, both can't be correct."

He was silent for a while his partner stared at him but he finally admitted that he had Cancer. He went on at great length to explain that he was not worried and that he was sure that next week they would cut it out and he would be fine. He made us promise not to tell his children. We agreed as we never see the children anyway, so it was an easy promise to make and keep.

I wonder why there is a reluctance to talk about ourselves if we are unfortunate enough to become victim to a serious illness or a chronic disease. I know there is a reluctance to talk about mental illness or drug addiction for some people, but I had not realized that this reluctance also applied to serious illnesses, such as Cancer, Dementia or other Chronic illness. Maybe it is the circle that I travel in at this point in my life.

Ever thought about this

We want many things but need far less. The funny thing is that the less you think about how you can get something, like money, love, or laughter... the faster it will come.

Walkin' on sunshine, life is strange

Intergalactic Phone Book listing

For all those who write and publish blogs, I found your new Intergalactic Phone Book listing!!

It wasn't easy. At first, I looked under Illuminated, but you weren't there. Then I looked under Faith Healer, Magician, and Wild Thing; not there either. You weren't even under Funny Bones. I started to worry. 

Then I had an "ah-ha" moment. I looked you up under people who have their own blog, and who will very, very soon travel... Eureka! 

You make time and space look easy so thank you for your words and thoughts.

Quickie Happiness Workshop

Quickie Happiness Workshop for Increasing Profits at Times of Seeming Peril:

Think as much, if not more, about growing your income as you do of trimming your expenses. 

And for extra credit focus on customers more than vendors; smiles more than frowns; possibilities more than risks; options more than commitments; vacations more than overtime; detours more than setbacks; opportunities more than obstacles; and Goldilocks more than the bears.

More workshop details

Customers more than vendors: Every customer can bring you more business, using social media to extol your virtues or rant about their bad experience. Everyone who comes into your business can and will talk about you to their friends, who may become customers. Treat them as you want to be treated, with respect and care.

Options more than commitments: Everyday options are presented to us by the Universe, but we may be closed to the bounty that is out there because we narrowly and mistakenly only focus on our commitments. Commitments are options that have been acted on, and for every commitment we have, we should cultivate two options to consider.

Vacations more than overtime: On vacation, we have a chance to recharge our battery and become open to new ideas. When we work overtime, we draw on our energy and deplete ourselves and become prone to the idea that work is all we have. Work should only be a small part of our life. If we are doing what we love, we are not working and if we are not doing what we love, we need to go on vacation to find our dream and chase it.

Detours more than setbacks: Every detour is a wonderful opportunity to explore a new path and find excitement and joy in your world. A setback is another opportunity to rediscover your path and to create a new adventure.

Opportunities more than perils: Examine the perils you expect; you may find they are a creation of your own imagination or of your own limited view of life. All perils are opportunities in waiting if you approach them with an open and creative mindset.

Goldilocks more than the bears: She was adventurous and willing to try new things; the bears were set in their ways and were not willing to try new things. Be Goldilocks, not the bears.

End of Workshop