The present is a gift
This English proverb resonates with me deeply and I find it absolutely beautiful. It reminds me of the value of time, that time is the most valuable commodity we possess. So we better not waste it and do everything we can to spend it in a meaningful and joyful manner. The cancer diagnosis has helped me to accept that life is not endless and that every day is not for certain but a gift. While cancer itself is NOT a gift, I have accepted and embraced it right from the very beginning as MY very personal challenge to grow and develop further. It’s not the end (luckily), it’s also not a new beginning. It’s simply a milestone in my journey of life, however long it will be. And with a laughing smile I realized early that my body decided to develop 2 cancers to really make me pause and learn to spend my energies more wisely. I have to admit: just a broken leg or only 1 little tumor would not have been enough to stop me in my tracks and make me learn so profoundly.
This proverb reminds me to cherish the moment even in difficult times. It also means for me that every day is a good day. Sometimes I may be weak or worrisome but still: this does not mean that it cannot be a good day. It’s in my hands to make it a good one, to make a change for the better.
And there are so many ways to make my day a good day – I just need to be present in the moment, not distracted by thinking or fearing about the future. It’s really about centering myself in the present moment, living the moment with all my senses, and reminding myself: it’s my choice what the present moment looks like and feels like. In the past, I thought that I have to be active to enjoy the present but the experiences of illness and weakness have opened my mind and challenged me to actively include stillness and calmness into my life and appreciate how they enrich my life.
One final thought for today: No one knows how long one’s life will be, what will be thrown in one’s way, what the lottery of life will bring. In the past months, challenged by the cancer experience, I have gained peace of mind with regards to death. I am so grateful for the long life I have already lived, the family I have, the professional life I have experienced, the friends I have made …. It has been such a rich life already that I see every additional day as a gift.
