Onwards and Upwards No 29
Hello my healing team,
I hope this update finds you well.
It has been a relatively busy couple of weeks for me. Following my last bone marrow biopsy result, which was quite positive, I had a bone scan. The scan was to assess whether there were any tumours in other bones away from the biopsy site. This week, my Doctor – the Nutty Professor, sent me a simple text with the message “all clear”. Well said Nutty!! I couldn’t have said it better myself! Although my numbers are rising slowly, I have no hidden tumours, so it’s time for living.
Back in 2014, after my stem cell transplant, I set myself a goal to share my experiences, learnings and thoughts as far and wide as I could so that I might inspire others to embrace wellness and live deliberately. I set this goal because of the simple statistic that 50% of the population will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their life (according to WHO)!! Whilst this stat staggers me, I am reassured by the fact that 1/3 of all cancers are preventable. I want to inspire as many people as possible to strive to modify their lifestyle so that they can fall on the right side of that 50% by making changes that will help them prevent cancer and other diseases.
This week I have had the chance to realise that goal again as I was invited to Brisbane to deliver a presentation to nearly 400 people, talking about how to become empowered from a position of adversity, and how to embrace deliberate living. I am always a little nervous before talking. It is quite hard to put myself in the position where I am totally vulnerable, talking intimately of the challenges that my family and I face. However, as has always been the case, I was warmly received and the feedback given to me was abundantly positive. I am making a difference. It is an amazing feeling.
As I am confronted with a terminal disease, I occasionally think about how I want to be remembered when I pass (after I turn 80). What will be my legacy. Some of the things I want to be remembered for include:
- Being a caring father and husband.
- Being active within my community by connecting socially, being a good friend and supporting those around me to be the best they can be.
- I want to have contributed to society in a meaningful way, both in my career and in support of the charity organisations that I believe in.
- I want to have provided support to those who experience adversity, and conduct myself in a manner that demonstrates to those people that you can become empowered, embrace change and live deliberately when times are difficult.
I believe that if you can articulate your legacy and work towards it, you are more likely to achieve it.
What’s your legacy???
Take care
Geoff
Geoff, inspiring as always.
Hi Geoff. I sent you a rather long comment, but unsure whether you received it. I hit the enter key before completing my email address.
Kind regards
Sue Burns
Hey Susan, I didn’t receive your comment but I do look forward to reading it. Thanks Geoff