Comments on: Good in the Strangest of Places http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/2010/01/20/good-in-the-strangest-of-places/ Mystery Author Thu, 17 May 2012 22:12:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Elizabeth http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/2010/01/20/good-in-the-strangest-of-places/#comment-1783 Elizabeth Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:28:44 +0000 http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/?p=476#comment-1783 Wow. Thanks, for the comments, everyone. Perspective is so important, isn't it? Wow. Thanks, for the comments, everyone. Perspective is so important, isn’t it?

]]> By: Joe http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/2010/01/20/good-in-the-strangest-of-places/#comment-1766 Joe Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:57:01 +0000 http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/?p=476#comment-1766 I often tell people that my cancer has been a gift--one I'd gladly re-wrap and give back. But it has made me change priorities. I do a better job of not letting small things knock me off balance. Life and death, and the people you love, and who love you: Those things matter. Everything else I'd trade for groceries. And Lynn, I still hear the voice that says "what if?" Some days it shouts, some days it whispers. It's always there. But as time passes, I notice less shouting. Someday, God willing, we won't hear it at all. Laura, you'll speak from your heart, and you'll help people. They will love you. :) I often tell people that my cancer has been a gift–one I’d gladly re-wrap and give back.

But it has made me change priorities. I do a better job of not letting small things knock me off balance. Life and death, and the people you love, and who love you: Those things matter. Everything else I’d trade for groceries.

And Lynn, I still hear the voice that says “what if?” Some days it shouts, some days it whispers. It’s always there. But as time passes, I notice less shouting. Someday, God willing, we won’t hear it at all.

Laura, you’ll speak from your heart, and you’ll help people. They will love you.

:)

]]> By: Nikki http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/2010/01/20/good-in-the-strangest-of-places/#comment-1763 Nikki Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:52:56 +0000 http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/?p=476#comment-1763 Almost 5 years ago I found out unexpectedly that I was losing a job of 12 years, with a small business that had been a huge part of my life, along with close interaction with the owners family--I babysat his kids 2-3x/week. That same week my father fell and broke his femur, which led to him being in the hospital the better part of 6 months before he passed away...including times where my sister and I had to find a nursing home, make sure my mother didn't lose the house, and watch the physical and mental decline in just awful ways. Although this was no doubt the hardest time I have ever gone through, it pushed me to interview for the job I have now with a terrific business and a lot less drama--something I never would have done. I was ready to go down with the ship I had been on. The other amazing thing is that 3 months prior to all of this, my nephew (and godson) was born. Since I was unemployed, I spent a lot of time with my mom, sister and the baby while helping with my dad. When you get to spend that much time with a little one you get a closeness that you would never have just visiting from time to time. Riley is almost 5, and the look I get when I walk through the door after not seeing him for 3 or 4 months is priceless. And life does go on, though very different. It took a long time to adjust to so much change, and without a doubt some of it was not good...but many things were and led me down a road I would never have taken. Almost 5 years ago I found out unexpectedly that I was losing a job of 12 years, with a small business that had been a huge part of my life, along with close interaction with the owners family–I babysat his kids 2-3x/week. That same week my father fell and broke his femur, which led to him being in the hospital the better part of 6 months before he passed away…including times where my sister and I had to find a nursing home, make sure my mother didn’t lose the house, and watch the physical and mental decline in just awful ways.
Although this was no doubt the hardest time I have ever gone through, it pushed me to interview for the job I have now with a terrific business and a lot less drama–something I never would have done. I was ready to go down with the ship I had been on.
The other amazing thing is that 3 months prior to all of this, my nephew (and godson) was born. Since I was unemployed, I spent a lot of time with my mom, sister and the baby while helping with my dad. When you get to spend that much time with a little one you get a closeness that you would never have just visiting from time to time. Riley is almost 5, and the look I get when I walk through the door after not seeing him for 3 or 4 months is priceless.
And life does go on, though very different. It took a long time to adjust to so much change, and without a doubt some of it was not good…but many things were and led me down a road I would never have taken.

]]> By: JD Rhoades http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/2010/01/20/good-in-the-strangest-of-places/#comment-1762 JD Rhoades Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:31:33 +0000 http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/?p=476#comment-1762 "So how about you? Have you ever been faced with something that--at first glance--seemed awful yet had a silver lining you may have missed otherwise?" Yeah. 2009. But, like you, I learned who my friends are. I lost my office lease at the worst possible time, but slid into a much better location when the newspaper I write columns for closed their local office and I was the first to find out about it. My agent dumped me, but I found a better one, thanks to some of the above-mentioned friends. Now as for you...go out there and knock 'em dead. I know you can do it, and so do you. “So how about you? Have you ever been faced with something that–at first glance–seemed awful yet had a silver lining you may have missed otherwise?”

Yeah. 2009. But, like you, I learned who my friends are. I lost my office lease at the worst possible time, but slid into a much better location when the newspaper I write columns for closed their local office and I was the first to find out about it. My agent dumped me, but I found a better one, thanks to some of the above-mentioned friends.

Now as for you…go out there and knock ‘em dead. I know you can do it, and so do you.

]]> By: Lynn http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/2010/01/20/good-in-the-strangest-of-places/#comment-1760 Lynn Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:49:30 +0000 http://elizabethlynncasey.com/blog/?p=476#comment-1760 Have you ever been faced with something that--at first glance--seemed awful yet had a silver lining you may have missed otherwise? LOL let me count the ways...the stillbirth of my second son, divorce, getting a job, losing a job, dealing with infidelity, and my newest - breast cancer. I learned that no matter what the fear I can control something. With the cancer, it was getting through the day -- the week -- th chemo -- the radiation -- and now the what if phase...I have my yearly appointments next month. What if it comes back.. what if... but all I can focus on is the what I CAN control. I can go to my appointments. I can exercise and eat right... I can lose fifty pounds...okay maybe not... grin.... Have you ever been faced with something that–at first glance–seemed awful yet had a silver lining you may have missed otherwise?

LOL let me count the ways…the stillbirth of my second son, divorce, getting a job, losing a job, dealing with infidelity, and my newest – breast cancer.

I learned that no matter what the fear I can control something. With the cancer, it was getting through the day — the week — th chemo — the radiation — and now the what if phase…I have my yearly appointments next month. What if it comes back.. what if… but all I can focus on is the what I CAN control. I can go to my appointments. I can exercise and eat right… I can lose fifty pounds…okay maybe not… grin….

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