The Cancer Card?

If life is a deck of cards, in my deck I received a card, that is called the “Cancer Card”. A recent post in New York Times enlightened me on the power of the “Cancer Card”. Apparently it is the ticket to freedom, to withdraw from responsibilities and to do pretty much whatever you want.

I am thinking, why didn’t any one tell me this ?.

I would be happy to give it away, but I don’t see anyone wanting it.

I have kept the card, just like all the others, as a reminder of how precious every moment of life is. It turns out as the author claims, it is something that you can flash to get your way.

I guess anything in the world is open to manipulation. Religion is, authority is , why not cancer?

Cancer survivors symbolizes mortality to those who are free of cancer, they remind them that death is inevitable and because of that perhaps lives touched by cancer are given special privileges.Sometimes for sympathy, sometime in empathy but mostly because people are kind.

I will say I have been on the receiving side of much kindness and love. More so after cancer, those who value me as a person.

I see my share of manipulation in the practice of medicine, sometimes for pain pills , sometimes for disability, sometimes for the heck of it. I have seen it all. However underneath all of it, is the desire to be validated, accepted and acknowledged.

If only we can provide that to each other, without others needing to extract that from us, perhaps most will not manipulate.

Life ,eventually, is about accepting what you are given, turning it into what validates you, moving forward with a keen concern about others that are walking along you.

This holiday season, lets tolerate each other, validate each other and own what we need to do and fulfill our duties and eat some cookies. Happy Holidays to you all!