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
