Category: Opinion

Stories from my life: I am a survivor

Wikipedia - Cancer Survivor

I was waiting for the elevator and a seasoned black woman walked up to me. She was panting like she was in pain, so naturally I asked “Are you ok?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “I just finished with a spa treatment and it was more intense than I expected.”

We both got on the elevator to go to our destination and continued talking.

“I am a two-time cancer survivor so I sometimes get winded.” she explained.

“I’m glad that you are ok.” I said. “I don’t think I have survived anything” I joked with her.

“Oh I’m sure you have,” she said. “Life can throw some curve balls.”

“Yes it can I agreed.” I smiled and the bell rang that we were at her floor.

“Thanks for listening” she said.

“No problem.” I said. “Good luck!”

Sometimes all you have to do is show the tiniest bit of compassion and people respond to it like a thirsty man in a desert. I know how good it feels when people listen to me, so I want to share that with others.

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Thirsty after fast food?

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 19:  Customers walk to...

I have friends who like to go for fast food sometimes. I’m not crazy about it, but I enjoy talking to them so I eat whatever they go. I have noticed however that I am always very thirsty after eating fast food. Has anyone else had this experience?

For that matter, I don’t tend to feel good after eating fast food. Sometimes mom and pop places are better than national chains because the food seems more natural. Is it just me, or do you get sick of eating overly processed and chemically laden food? Perhaps my tastes are changing, but I haven’t really enjoyed fast food for at least ten years. The older I get the less I enjoy it. I wonder why? I know that tastes change as you age, but it seems surprising that they can be so dramatic.

For example, in college I used to enjoy eating at Taco Bell. There wasn’t a TB in the town I grew up in, so it was a new thing for me. Then I hadn’t ate it for years, and when I tried about 10 years ago, I found it disgusting. I could not take a second bite. I told the manager this was the worst fast food I had ordered up to that date, and he offered a refund which I think I refused. I don’t want a coupon to have the experience again. If I have a bad experience I never come back, and I never plan to.

There are many times where fast food has negatively affected me. I wonder why it is so popular with others. I never really thought to myself ever in my life “Man, I sure could use some fast food!” It was always something that I did with others, and not saying anything because I didn’t want to ruin their moment.

I do think the fast food industry ultimately will fail. Eventually people will learn that just like cigarettes and alcohol, what you put inside yourself matters. It is surprising isn’t it that this lesson hasn’t been learned yet?

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Reacting to stress-B.R.E.A.T.H principle

Set Fire To The Heavens

I deal with people who are stressed in their jobs. When I help a client, they are usually being pressured by someone else to do something and a computer problem stands in the way. So you have to be kind and patient. So to help remind myself I came up with the breath principle. I take a deep breath and go through a checklist.

B – Breath, slow deep breath in and out.

R – Relax

E – Enjoy the moment

A – Aware of how you feel/environment

T – Think if this is real or not

H- Hope (since this isn’t eternal.)

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