LIFE STEPS COACHING

Just recently my 27 year old brother David was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer.  It came as a total surprise to me, my family, and not least of all David.  Within a week he had surgery, and now this week he is begninng a 9 week chemotherapy treatment series.  I've noticed that sometimes I find myself very aware of my feelings and reactions to what David is going through, and then other times I am tuned out, on auto-pilot.  With any life-altering situation, it is really hard to imagine how you might react until you actually experience it.  My first and instinctive response to David has been to speak words of hope, optimism, positivity, confidence... anything and everything along those lines.  I went so far as to make a request that he endure his battle against cancer with a sense of hope, a sense of opportunity, and even a sense of grace and gratitude.  In some ways I am wary of coming across a little unsympathetic, even lame for suggesting he take such an idealistic and profound approach... as if it were so easy.  While meanwhile, there is no way for me truly understand the levels of fear, anxiety, and pain he must be experiencing.  At the same time, I know that we play different roles in each other's lives at different moments.   And in my relationship with my brother, this is the role I feel good about playing right now.     

I told David that this is a life-defining moment.  Cancer doesn't have a "face" you can look in the eye.  Its not something you can reason with, so it is up to you and you only to face the unknown.  I told David I picture him like the Hero because Heroes are the bravest among us.  I see a Hero as someone who: calls on their internal resources and energy for focus, clarity and willpower; believes they are fighting for something worth fighting for!; and believes they are not alone in their fight, but are so focused on their cause that this wouldn't matter anyway.  David has certainly begun to get in touch with the powers of a Hero.  When he completes his journey, I hope David gains wisdom, confidence, and faith in himself and the divine nature of things.  I hope he takes the opportunity to make positive healthy changes in his life regardless of the uncertain cause of his cancer.  Like the Hero who endures his battles, suffers loss, and admits small defeats before the final conclusion, David will earn the right to experience the true nature of glory and victory.  I know he will be blessed with access to a special kind of joy in understanding the gift and reward of something won, something achieved, learned, and maybe even something sacred.

My brother David is my Hero!