Life lessons.

There are so many things to learn about life. Right now I'm learning to have patience....with my self, my loved ones and just life in general. I am dealing with the diagnosis of my spouse's recurrent cancer. It has not been good for me the last few weeks. A wonderful evening out to dinner was dramatically cut short by a phone call from the doctor. And although I like to think I've prepared myself for the worst, seeing images on a computer screen and having "cancer" pointed out by a doctor on those images really makes things hit home. It's been the roughest 2 years of my life, but I know I've grown from the entire experience. I'm learning how short life really is, whether you live to be 20 or 100. And you really have to make the most of it, as much as you can. If that means having that second glass of wine, the extra large scoop of ice cream or french fries, spending an extra hour out shopping to find peace of mind....you gotta be selfish sometimes and do what you need to do to cope with life. At the same time, I'm learning to deal with a 97 year old grandmother who isn't the angel people seem to think she is. Bitterness is hard to swallow, but apparently it is easy to spit at others :( I have learned that it is so true that you cannot "teach an old dog new tricks". It is so true with people too. I have found peace in my heart that life throws things at you for a reason...if my dad hadn't died when I was young, I never would have found my passion for helping people in the funeral business OR met my husband in the field. If I hadn't been laid off from work years ago, I never would have discovered how strong I can be and adapt to new surroundings. And with the diagnosis of cancer so close to me? I am learning a little everyday about love, devotion and compassion.