Challenge Accepted

Earlier this week, our life took a hard pivot that knocked the wind completely out of us. If you have been on the receiving end, either for yourself or someone you love, of a diagnosis of cancer, you know what I’m talking about. Life stops. Everything changes and you are completely helpless. You are at the mercy of medical professionals scheduling appointments. And you know nothing until you get through the scans and blood work and biopsies and someone, anyone, actually sits down and tells you what you’re dealing with and comes up with a plan. It is the most helpless feeling I have ever had. Plans stop, dreams are paused, and all you can do is take one breath at a time.

So, today, I was challenged to write about finding joy in the midst of it all. Enter the Olympic Games. Everyone has an opinion about the opening ceremonies – I’m not going there. To me, the athletes who have spent years and countless hours training deserve respect and to know that their country is cheering them on. To me, one of the greatest things about the Olympics is watching and learning about sports that I never watch, some I’ve never seen before (enter Handball).

The Paris Olympics have offered my partner and I this amazing distraction and also given us the perfect excuse to just sit and be together. We’ve cheered for the Americans, we’ve cheered for the underdogs, we’ve hurt for those who falter, we’ve even mocked the commentators and laughed. And we’ve loved watching how the athletes from different countries have respected and cheered each other on as they face their challenges on the biggest stage. Their joy at their accomplishments and those of their opponents has been remarkable. We haven’t worried about chores or projects. And when the games are on, we haven’t talked about cancer.

We’ve just taken the time to watch the games and be together. It’s filled the hours while we wait for appointments, it’s given us something to talk about other than cancer, and it has allowed us to feel normal in the midst of all the uncertainty. Enjoying each other’s company, laughing together, touching each other, just like any other day. Who knew how much joy could be found in appreciating normal?