Against the odds, I’m still here. Some people tell me, “It’s because you had a purpose.”
If I believe my survivorship work—i.e., my purpose—explains why I landed on the right tail of the survival curve, how do I explain equally passionate authors who died mid-book? Parents who never got to raise their children? Patient advocates who never saw projects come to fruition?
Scientists are working on the medical answers that research can—and will—provide. As for the existential questions, no amount of research can answer that “Why?”
Whatever I believe about my survival, I cannot know if my purpose is the reason I survived. Too many factors determine the outcome, such as medical care, compliance with therapies, and factors beyond anyone’s understanding, let alone beyond my control.
Here’s what I know: When I began using my experiences as a patient to help others, the writing and patient advocacy work gave meaning to an otherwise sad and senseless situation. My survivorship work may have helped me heal physically, if only by motivating me to get good care and comply with therapies, with hope of continuing that work.
For sure, my sense of purpose helped me live as fully as possible by opening my eyes to opportunities that remained and helping me embrace each day. Whatever the impact on my survival, if any, it helped me live well in the face of uncertainty.
We welcome your comments! SEE COMMENTS UNDER COMMENT BOX (below)
Subscribe here for e-notifications of new posts. Privacy Policy: We collect only your name and email address—and we do not share with anyone. You may unsubscribe easily at any time. For archives of older posts, click here