The Roller Coaster to Recovery

Good morning. I hope everyone’s day is going well.

The last couple of years have been especially difficult in my battle against cancer. There were times when I was certain I couldn’t continue. One moment everything seemed to be going well, the next minute I crashed. What little control I had over my body seemed to disappear.

Whether you’re recovering from physical, mental, emotional drama, dealing with addiction from someone or something, or dealing with a potentially deadly disease, you probably have experienced the roller coaster to recovery.

As I’ve learned, recovery is not a straight path, but one that is filled with obstacles along the way. The roller coaster effect may have you climbing to the top and then dropping to the bottom. Each turn has the possibility to derail you.

So, how to handle this situation. I wish I had an easy answer. Every morning I wake up, I am thankful I can see a new day. Instead of focusing on the negatives of my diagnosis, I try to find a glimmer of positive news and focus on that. I hate to feel sorry for myself because I know there are people in the world that are worse off than me. I was told the other day that there is nothing wrong with feeling a little sorry for myself.

Little treats are a nice perk. Whether it’s buying something online, eating something you’ve been craving, or picking a flower in your yard. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it can be free. The air and the sky are, thankfully, still free.

If you have a caregiver, whether it’s your spouse, a member of your family, a friend, or a licensed caregiver, don’t forget to be grateful. It becomes easy to take these people for granted.

Whatever roller coaster you are on, hang on and don’t give up. Hopefully, the end of the ride will end smoothly.