[MotownJohnny]

Don’t know if anyone caught that. In a nutshell, actress Valerie Harper (‘Rhoda’) was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in January, and given 3-5 months. She has done amazingly well on chemo, responded well, and is feeling good enough that she is one of the contestants on the Fall series of ‘Dancing With The Stars’ starting in 2 weeks.

The interviewer (I think it was Elizabeth Vargas, maybe Robin Roberts) asked her something about how she thought of her diagnosis and her prospects, and if it frightened her. Her answer was great – she said she does not worry about tomorrow, that is pointless; she concentrates on living for today, because worrying about tomorrow is wasting the joy and beauty of life. Live for today, and make each day the best it can be.

I thought that was pretty profound for me. I have been miserable for a year plus now. I spend all of my days, and a lot of nights, worrying about what this all means for me, and immersed in past pain.

She is so right.

The war is entirely in my head now. I’m safe (I really need to keep reminding myself of that fact, it's 2013 and I'm safe), I have a good support team, and trying to “make all the right moves” (lyrics from an 80s song/Tom Cruise movie theme). It is illogical to make myself miserable. My days are routine/normal, exactly like before this happened, work, home, family, I have a lot of joy in my life, I have it great compared to probably 99% of the humans who have ever lived on this planet. It is kind of a sin, and a shame, to waste what I have been so graciously given by God. Some days, I wonder if He has a dark sense of humor, or has it in for me, or has abandoned me. I know that isn’t the case. This must all serve some greater purpose to get me to a much better place in life. I need to keep this fact paramount - I can choose to be happy. It will take a lot of hard work, probably the challenge of my life, but I want to be a winner and come out smiling on the other side of PTSD.

[lynn P.]

I'm happy the Valerie Harper interview was a light bulb moment for you MotownJohnny. I agree what she said is inspiring and she has a great attitude. Another woman who inspired me is Diana Nyad - the swimmer who made it from Florida to Cuba. Great job in being grateful for the good in your life and trying to keep healthy. Here's a link that another member shared about Diana Nyad.

Diana Nyad’s success all in her head, experts say - NBC News.com

[MotownJohnny]

Wow, I read the link. Pretty amazing. Shows the dual nature of our minds, we can give in or triumph.