Attitude is everything

In two weeks I'll see the oncologist again. For the past couple of years, it's been an ongoing thing. When cancer comes into your life, so do the doctors, and the nurses, and the labs...and while all these repetitive visits get to be a royal pain in the rear, they're a necessary evil. The doctors just want to keep tabs on things. They want to make sure cancer isn't trying to rear its ugly head again. And even though I'd rather not be continually poked and prodded, I know it's for my benefit so I suck it up and deal with it. I've learned it's important to keep a positive attitude.

One of the best ways I've found to stay positive is to begin each day by being thankful. I spend the first minutes of every day being grateful for all of God's blessings in my life. Gratitude helps me get things in perspective and keep them there. Attitude is everything.

It's hard to stay in a positive frame of mind when things in our lives aren't in our control but, being a person of faith, I know God uses all things for my benefit...the good and the bad, the easy and the hard. When I look at life this way, it's easier to accept the things I can't control or change. I've noticed when I focus on the positive, my day goes smoother, my load seems lighter. When I focus negatively or complain about things, every single thing seems to weigh heavily on my heart. I'd rather be happy than sad any day, so I choose to look for the silver lining in every gray cloud.

I'm hoping, when I see the oncologist on March 1, he'll tell me I don't have to come see him again for six months or even better than that, for an entire year. If I get that news, I'll be skipping out of his office with a great big grin on my face and I'll be celebrating my progress. Gotta keep believing that good things are around the corner! Hope and gratitude are my constant companions.

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