I like to give myself a magic wand at this time of the year to grant wishes to those affected by cancer.
Here are my wishes for 2014:
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I wish that people with cancer were immune to other diseases and misfortunes. You should only have to deal with one bad thing at a time.
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I wish that every receptionist in every doctor’s office greeted each visitor with a smile and kind word.
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I wish that people with cancer weren’t beaten over the head with the importance of positive thinking.
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I wish that people with lung cancer weren’t asked, “Did you smoke?”
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I wish that bake sales to raise money for individuals with cancer weren’t necessary.
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I wish that risk reduction strategies shifted away from the “supplement of the month” to focusing more on what our mothers taught us: eat well-balanced meals, engage in regular exercise, and get enough sleep.
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I wish that the friends and families of people with cancer refrained from giving advice (except when requested).
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I wish that everyone with cancer took a mental break from cancer at least once a day.
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I wish that every caregiver knew how valuable and appreciated they were.
Reprinted with permission
Ithaca Journal, Dec. 28, 2013