Incurable Optimism

tags: Cancer, Cancer Research, charity, optimisim, uplej

I spoke with a gentleman on Friday that really impressed me. The person I spoke with, let’s call him Tom has Cancer. In fact I was informed by my office before the conference call that Tom had an “incurable” type of Cancer.

I was thinking, their is no way this guy I was speaking with was the same person my office prepared me for. I was blown away by Tom’s up beat and cool demeanor. He told me of his charity work and the things he did to make a difference in the lives of children. Such as walking the entire length of his home State (600 miles) to raise money for a charitable cause that he is passionate about.

Tom spoke of his Cancer but simply said he was fighting it, I offered my best attempt to give my sympathy (what do you say?) but, he simply asked me to pray for the bad cells to leave his body.

At no time in the 20 minute call did he speak negatively, or of having an incurable disease. I listened intently to his words and I’m embarrassed to say I was waiting for him to say just one negative thing so I could at least confirm I was talking to the “right” guy. He did not say one toxic thing. At the end of the call I thanked him for his time and I ended my portion of the conversation and simply sat in my car thinking “what if I were Tom”? Would I have been so cool or even cared to get on the phone at all?

I went about my day and hung out with my family that night but could not get Tom out of my mind. The fact is I have been inspired by a person with incurable optimism. My thinking is, if I cannot be optimistic with the healthy life I lead then who is the sick one here? I’m grateful to have been blessed by Tom’s example.

I’m going to be talking to Tom in the near future as he will be using uPlej to spread goodness about his causes. I just hope some of him rubs off on to me!

Thank you Tom! You were the right guy I was supposed to talk to after all.

Jeff Crane @ June 2, 2008