Wednesday 3 October 2012

Looking at the Big Picture

This morning is the WWW day.  Wake up, wee and weigh in Wednesday.  This has always been my favourite day of the week on this program as it is when I officially get to see what the results from the weeks hard work have thrown up.  Thankfully after being ill for the most of last week I was able to work out last night in our “Last Chance Training” which is now building up a little following and a new member last night joining us, Bec Green.  It is wonderful having these ladies join us and making sure that we push ourselves as a group on Tuesday nights, although there will be no training for the next 2 of them as I will be in Bali.

This morning saw another loss of 1.2kgs for the week, which takes me to 9.1kgs for the round and 33.6kgs in total in 18 weeks.  I can’t believe this and considering I was struggling both mentally and physically prior to be ill it has come at the perfect time.  I am now hoping to be busting out some super numbers in the next 6 weeks and hopefully lose the 12.5kgs I need to get me under the tonne by the end of the round.  This is my goal and would be the best Christmas present ever.

My issues that I have documented in this blog over the last 4-6 weeks about feeling tired and mentally flat were put into some serious perspective yesterday.  Yes I have said that I have been struggling and doing it tough, but I was given a huge wake up yesterday which caused me to seriously get a grip and put a few things in perspective.  My issues, which aren’t really issues in the grand scheme of things, are so miniscule that I need to sit back and realise how fortunate I really am and make the most of every opportunity I have.  Each day provides me with the chance to make that day amazing.  I am given the chance to do pretty much what I choose and to impact other people’s lives in a positive manner if I indeed choose to.  So what has made me reflect like this? 

A lot of people will know that I am taking part, along with my wife, in the “Ride to Conquer Cancer” at the end of this month.  Raising money for the Peter Mac Institute has allowed me to become part of people’s lives and personal history that I otherwise would not have known about and I am shocked to see how many people have been impacted by this horrible disease.  Cancer does not discriminate in any way, shape or form.  It is random whom it selects and it is brutal.  Yesterday I was given the news from 2 separate people that they have been impacted also.  One of these people is a very dear friend of my wife’s (and a training buddy and friend of mine) whom donated a considerable sum of money to Julie’s ride.  When we asked her why she did that, she told us that she had a family member that was only given a couple of weeks to live and she felt like she had to do something to give back.  Now, this was totally unexpected and a very sad moment for all of us.  This has and will continue to impact our friend whether we do the ride or not, but for her to feel that this is what she can do to give back was an amazing gesture.


Secondly, I received an email from a person I have only met through the 12WBT and struck up a friendship with.  I have since been fortunate enough to meet them and consider them part of my support network within the program.  I was told yesterday that they are also gravely ill and don’t have a lot of confidence in the prognosis.  To hear this was absolutely gutting, but to read on and have them, tell me that this was not going to beat them and whilst it was going to be tough and they were going to have to fight for their life, they were not giving up and would tackle this mother head on.  If someone can be given a prognosis like that and decide that this is something they are going to tackle and beat, why am I whining about not losing enough weight and feeling tired.  These people have not been given a choice, yet they are the ones that are fighting everyday to be in the same position I am in right now.    I have no reason to complain, whine or feel down especially when I know what others are going through.  Whilst I am saddened by the thought of people I know having to deal with this, I am determined that I will now do what I can to prove to them and everyone else that the choices I make moving forward from this day are because I CAN and I CHOOSE to make every moment count.  I can’t live these people’s lives through my own, but I can certainly make sure I don’t take things for granted and use their inspirational battles to ensure that I make the most of my time here.


Sorry for the depressing post, but since hearing this news yesterday it has been weighing on my mind.  I feel better for having got it out there.

8 comments:

  1. Your post was inspiring and uplifting, but at the same time bought tears to my eyes!

    It is true, there are so many out there suffering (One of my closest friends is sitting at the hospital as I type this, as her son receives chemo, which he has been receiving on and off for 4 years).

    Some of the incredibly difficult journey's that some have to travel does put things in perspective and makes us appreciate what we have and appreciate those around us and be grateful for every day.

    Monnie :)

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    1. Very true Monnie. Hearing stories like that of your friend certainly makes me appreciate that my 4 little munchkins are healthy at the moment and my heart goes out to your friend. No child deserves to have to go through that.

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  2. How can we donate to yours/Julies rides? Is there a link?

    Great reflective post on perspective.

    Fleury

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    1. Fleury,

      You can access the below link to make a donation which will be greatly appreciated.

      https://secure2.convio.net/cfrau/site/Donation2?idb=1471258555&1380.donation=form1&df_id=1380&FR_ID=1060&PROXY_ID=1091094&PROXY_TYPE=20&JServSessionIdr004=utm0wt3a62.app243b

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  3. Hi Leitchy - a sombre post but not depressing. Cancer is one of those things that everyone experiences somehow unfortunately. My mum has stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and currently having chemo. I visited her on the weekend (she's in NZ) and am happy to say she doesnt look as bad as I expected, short hair notwithstanding! However she is sick,and the reality of that hit me like a tonne of bricks when I got back on the plane to come back to Oz. Cancer is a wake up call for the rest of us to stop resting on our laurels and do something with our lives. For me, right this minute, it will be finishing my Masters (and doing it well :), and keeping myself healthy. It isn't just about losing weight, it's about going to the doctor, getting stuff checked, keeping active, eating good food etc etc. It is also about living life - having fun, laughing, doing something meaningful every day. It's a HUGE task. And it can be quite daunting. It's why I still eat chocolate biscuits LOL but it can be inspiring too.

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    1. Sorry to hear about your mum. As I said I am blown away by the number of people this disease has touched in some way and anything I can do to help is what I will do.

      I can relate to the choccy biscuits as well, why not.

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  4. Thank you for your post Greg.
    I lost a aunty last year to breast cancer and she was also a mother, grandmother and friend to many others. So many lives were affected when she passed away, and as much as we can say we were lucky to have her in our lives, she is missed every day.
    My grandfather has also had a relaspe of Prostate cancer which we were told about yesterday.
    And you are so right it puts my problems all into perspective
    i too would love to donate to you and your wifes ride
    thank you for taking to time to write your blog and i hope the best for your friends and all those affected by it
    Casey

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    1. Thanks Casey and i am sorry to hear that you have also been impacted by this horrible disease. My goal is to do enough that in some small way we can contribute to finding a cure and if that means raising money for research to find a cure and turn this from a disease into an illness then that is the least I can do.

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