Don't Do It Alone and Two Responses to Challenges (like Cancer)

Here's a great (and simple principle).   Don't do it alone.  My personal experience is that certain professions and personalities are more prone to the trap of isolation than others.  Therapists, pastors, teachers, to name a few.

Last night I had dinner with a long-time friend which I knew would help break up the solitude of treatment but it also helped me reflect on the importance of connection with wise people who share your values (both of these are important).

Two Answers to the Question of How We Deal With Challenges (like Cancer diagnoses)
Wrong answer (to which we are often drawn):  Do it alone. Do it privately. It's safer and more convenient.

Right answer (which, for Christians accords with our philosophy of Christian Community): Do it with trusted mentors because that truly is safer.  Some will argue that I write from an Extroverted perspective here (and I do).  But they're wrong if they miss the principle.  The principle is about mentoring and connection and accountability.  Introverts may need to get these things through different means than the Extrovert but they surely have the same basic needs (connection/significance) and face the same basic realities (isolation breeds depression and disconnection with reality).

Here's some 'remote mentoring' from John Adams (via David McCullough):
“Rather than literally burning the midnight oil, which he judged to be unhealthy, John Adams advised his son to make the most of college by developing an inquisitive outlook that would prompt him to get to know the most exceptional scholars and question them closely. "Ask them about their tutors, manner of teaching. Observe what books lie on their tables. Fall into questions of literature, science, or what you will.”
― David McCullough

How is your battle with isolation going?  Any steps you want to take to further real connection? 

Second Day of Third Cycle

This is the second day of my Third (of Six) cycles of treatment.  Technically, my second day, since it is about 2 a.m. (the steroids are working).

Notable events

• dinner last evening with a long-time friend who had his own cancer diagnosis--we end up connecting with others around shared pains, which I suppose is a good thing if we reflect and learn rather than merely commiserate--some good reflecting and learning took place in our time together.
• first mention of "Complete Remission" (CR) yesterday by Dr. Choi who is running this clinical trial.  

Note:  CR's are good but are not the 'holy grail' of treatment.  Two other considerations are the durability of the remission (this being a clinical trial, we can only make guesses, hopefully 2+ years) and the hope for Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) which basically means that at the conclusion of the trial, the most powerful tests available do not show the disease in the bone marrow (which is where it originates).  

A CR is certainly a good thing and does suggest the possibility for a few (or a lot) more 'good' days (my friend last night reminded me we all face the possibility of mortality daily in various forms--I get that a lot).

But a CR is basically just "good", not necessarily important.  I find myself often remembering a statement Stephen R. Covey (of Seven Habits fame) used to make to the effect that being "good" is good but being good for something worthy is far better.  My application would be:  It is good that I apparently get a few more days but it would be far better if they are invested strategically.  Aye, there's the rub.

I am amazed by two things:

• how many resources are available to us (technology, education, global and instant communication, to name a few)
• how these resources are double-edged swords in that each of them carry the potential for greatness and the potential for waste (Solomon was right when he said there was no end to the writing [or reading] of books)

So, yesterday was a 'good' day, all in all, I hope your journey is also going well. How is your 'waste/worthiness ratio' going?