Last night was like the night before Christmas, I was just so excited I couldn’t sleep. I know one shouldn’t wish one’s life away but that’s no mean feat when there’s just so much to look forward to. And, when I did finally fall asleep, I couldn’t wait to wake up!
Based on the book I’ve been reading, Man’s Search for Meaning, today, I have a Meaning Trivector. This is way cool! But what does it mean you might ask? Well…in the fore ward to the book, the Rabbi Harold S Kushner explains that “the greatest task for any person is to find meaning in his or her life. Frankl saw three possible sources for meaning: in work (doing something significant), in love (caring for another person), and in courage during difficult times. Suffering in and of itself is meaningless; we give our suffering meaning by the way we respond to it.”
It’s hard to believe that this time six weeks ago I was kissing my thyroid goodbye during surgery. In reality, it’s a short time but it seems like time has passed in dog years, and it all feels like forever ago. But here we are six weeks later, and today I’ve got a whole heap of meaning going on and I’m loving it!
Let me enlighten you vis a vis today’s Meaning Trifecta. 1. Meaning in Work: I’m going back to work today. I love my job and the people I work with. I can’t wait to see all my workmates . Although I’m a firm believer in the motto, work to live (definitely not the other way round,) my job brings me a sense of purpose and gives me a whole heap of satisfaction.
2. Meaning in Love: It’s seven years to the day since David and I first met. Today is a poignant time marker of the wonderful life we’ve shared together so far, and recent events, have made us truly understand and appreciate, how much we mean to each other. Just like peanut butter and jelly, we were made to be together and we stick together!
3. My “suffering” has meaning. I’ve got a blog! David and I have both put so much time and effort into creating it and I guess for both of us in different ways it’s given us an enormous sense of release. It’s certainly empowered me (with words as my weapon,) and made my experience of living with Cancer a whole lot more meaningful . It’s allowed me to channel my meagre energy resources creatively and to produce something positive and honest that I can share with others.
That’s pretty impressive by anyone’s standards but I have a whole heap of other reasons to be happy today that include:
- sleeping back in the maritial bed (my radioactive powers are now only a health hazard to pregnant people or kids and David is neither!)
- meeting David for lunch
- getting my old class back
- seeing my counsellor (which always makes me feel good!)
- warm weather
- receiving a lovely card and gift from across the miles
- my first evening outing to a restaurant since going nuclear
- getting an overwhelmingly positive response to the blog.
The feedback to the blog blows me away. I never imagined that the thinks that I was thinking and the creations I’ve been cooking would have such a profound effect on other people. I feel a bit of a fraud with all the positive adjectives everyone is bandying about “brilliant,” “inspirational” and “wonderful.” I’d hate for someone to get sued under the Trade Descriptions Act! However, I like it that people like the blog. I like it. And if other people like it too, then it gives it just a bit more VAM (Value Added Meaning.) Hurrah for the Monday Meaning Trifecta!
