My name is Survivalist. I have a long difficult journey to endure. But I have people on my side, with Beautiful Minds, researching better ways to help people facing the challenge of Cancer. My name is Hope because they are living hope, diligently seeking better methods and ways to help.
My name is Sadness, because it is a lonely journey I have to take, and it is going to be painful and it will change my whole life. But I have Encouragement to remind me that I am not alone and to show me that there are many wonderful people, with Beautiful Minds, creating ways to help people cope with the feelings of isolation and of anxiety that a cancer diagnosis can bring.
..... I have Hope, because.... 'It Matters To That One'...
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “It made a difference for that one.”
