Just Sitting Here Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop

Last week I went to the Mayo Clinic for my weekly treatment. Walking through these doors can be unnerving for many and being that I've walked through them a ton over the last two years, I try to focus on making it positive for others by comforting those on edge.

I've been receiving acupuncture treatment for the last 16 weeks to help with the side effects of coming off the opioids that I was taking for pain related to my cancer. I receive this weekly treatment in the breast cancer clinic as all Integrated Health Services are in this part of the hospital.

As I sat I said hello to a lady sitting next to me, I could sense she was nervous as when she put on a fake smile she blurted out, "I'm just sitting here waiting for the other shoe to drop!" When I heard this I also saw the fear in her eyes and I could tell she was early on in her cancer fight. She shared that she was there to see an oncologist as they had found a lump in her breast. I assumed this had been a recurrence based on her comment about the other shoe dropping, but she went on to tell me that it was her first time at the hospital.

As I was wondering what the other shoe was, she shared that she was just let go from a job she started earlier this year. Before I could say anything, she started to cry and so I reached over extended my hand and she grabbed it, she continued to cry for a few minutes holding my hand until the nurse came out and called her name. As she stood up she thanked me and I told her that I was praying for the best results possible.

About an hour later, as I was walking through the parking lot, a car headed my way. As it approached I could see the person inside waving at me, as the window rolled down it was the lady I met in the lobby. This time she was smiling and as I said hello she started screaming, "It's nothing, it's nothing!" I smiled back and she went on to tell me that she wasted time worrying about nothing. I just smiled back.

As she drove off, I thought to myself, "How much time do we waste worrying about something we can't change?" I've done it, not as much now as I did before I was diagnosed. This brief encounter reminded me that there isn't any better moment than the one I have right now! Don't waste it on anything!

Reach out with comments, ideas, or your stories and photos to John Thomas:
Cell: (585) 469-0738 || JT@AllAccess.com
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