One of the perks of coming home late from work is my special privilege to meet people from all walks of life with interesting journey. (Trust me, I am really trying hard to get a positive spin of things here. 🙂)
.
.
Hailed a taxi tonight and heard an uplifting story of resiliency amidst suffering. I asked the man how long had he waited on the line. He said 2 hours and he was fine with it. He could be anywhere but just like everyone else there, he took the chance. He got nothing to complain about at this point in his life. 'Wow. Ok.' Intrigued by his answer, I commended him for his positive spirit. Turns out he is suffering from a carcinoid cancer that has spread to his liver. He had already undergone surgery and is supposed to be on full rest for recovery but he opted to still make a living amidst his condition. I felt sorry for him. He told me he didnt want to mention about it at first because he does not like people to pity him and that a lot of other people he met suffered worse than him and need the empathy more.
.
.
He went further that he was never more grateful in his life before. When he first got the news of his diagnosis he was in denial and dismissed all the doctor's recommendations. Sooner someone from the medical team reached out to him asking if he could meet her or if he prefers for her to go visit him at his residence. He looked at me and said "I am the one supposedly needing help and dying, she is the one begging for me to come visit the hospital. They treated me like their brother here. I am never the same person since I got my cancer. Everyday, I wake up thanking God." The man was teary eyed, I could tell he was holding his tears from the sound of his voice. And mind you he was very much driving carefully at this time with 2 hands on the steering wheel. A very uncoventional venue for an intense conversation, eh! "A lady I met at the hospital only doing her regular check up was later told she only had 3 months to live. She died during my 4 months of treatment at the hospital. I also met a man whose son died, wife got blind and he himself was diagnosed with cancer. All these happening in 1 week!" Then he looked at me to question, "Can you honestly tell me, when was the last time you woke up and thank God for your health?" That caught me speechless. I felt like it was God poking me to check if I had anything to complain with my life now after hearing the man's journey. LOL. 🤦♀️Just 15 mins before that ride, I was already starting to feel like I was getting sick of life. O.K. Message received, Lord. 😁 What an uplifting and inspiring encounter it was! God bless you, Samuel and all those resilient souls out there! Respect. Never give up! Keep going! Aja! #whattrulymattersinlife #LiveFully #BeGrateful
.
.
Hailed a taxi tonight and heard an uplifting story of resiliency amidst suffering. I asked the man how long had he waited on the line. He said 2 hours and he was fine with it. He could be anywhere but just like everyone else there, he took the chance. He got nothing to complain about at this point in his life. 'Wow. Ok.' Intrigued by his answer, I commended him for his positive spirit. Turns out he is suffering from a carcinoid cancer that has spread to his liver. He had already undergone surgery and is supposed to be on full rest for recovery but he opted to still make a living amidst his condition. I felt sorry for him. He told me he didnt want to mention about it at first because he does not like people to pity him and that a lot of other people he met suffered worse than him and need the empathy more.
.
.
He went further that he was never more grateful in his life before. When he first got the news of his diagnosis he was in denial and dismissed all the doctor's recommendations. Sooner someone from the medical team reached out to him asking if he could meet her or if he prefers for her to go visit him at his residence. He looked at me and said "I am the one supposedly needing help and dying, she is the one begging for me to come visit the hospital. They treated me like their brother here. I am never the same person since I got my cancer. Everyday, I wake up thanking God." The man was teary eyed, I could tell he was holding his tears from the sound of his voice. And mind you he was very much driving carefully at this time with 2 hands on the steering wheel. A very uncoventional venue for an intense conversation, eh! "A lady I met at the hospital only doing her regular check up was later told she only had 3 months to live. She died during my 4 months of treatment at the hospital. I also met a man whose son died, wife got blind and he himself was diagnosed with cancer. All these happening in 1 week!" Then he looked at me to question, "Can you honestly tell me, when was the last time you woke up and thank God for your health?" That caught me speechless. I felt like it was God poking me to check if I had anything to complain with my life now after hearing the man's journey. LOL. 🤦♀️Just 15 mins before that ride, I was already starting to feel like I was getting sick of life. O.K. Message received, Lord. 😁 What an uplifting and inspiring encounter it was! God bless you, Samuel and all those resilient souls out there! Respect. Never give up! Keep going! Aja! #whattrulymattersinlife #LiveFully #BeGrateful
