My Friend, My Hero.

I have so many people that I admire and consider my friends but today I want to share about someone who lifts me up every time I see her.  This hero is a women who is close to 65 years young.  She is someone I met at a group meeting of WW (formerly Weight Watchers)  One day as I walked into meeting she had tears streaming down her cheeks as she shared that she had just gotten the results from her recent blood work, test, and scans. She had Pancreatic Cancer.  She said that it was advance and she had about a year to live. That there could be treatment options and it would prolong her life but with some very strong side affects.  We talked about how she felt about treatment and how her family felt.  She had decided to pass up on treatment and settle her affairs and live as fully and vibrantly as she could.   I did not see her for a week or so but when I did she was just exiting a Yoga class at the local gym.  I asked her how she was doing and she said that she was going to do all she could each day and live a life of joy!  Her comments really hit me hard as I was so reluctant to go exercise that day and she was calling it "joyful?" I visit with her often at the gym and she always tells me to never give up! To enjoy my workouts and find the joy in them.  As I talked to her this past week she expressed that she decided to have treatment now  and that she was unable to chew or hardly eat for 5 days of the week because of the terrible blisters her medication causes in her mouth. She then said with a chuckle that she sure made up for it on the two days she could eat. She also told me about a great posture class that I should try with her. Always lifting and encouraging others even when she is hurting.  She just won't give up and give into cancer.  She is my Hero.  I have never seen her at any time before or since this diagnosis to be down and out about anything. As I listen and learn from her I want to soak up that positive attitude and live my life full of joy. She makes those she is around want to do better and more as they see her example.  We need more hero's like her. Those who quietly and with example teach us that each day we can have a life of joy.  I am lucky to call her my friend.