I am fortunate.  NOT because I have lung cancer.  I am fortunate because I have an amazing support system.

How this came to be, I’m not entirely sure.   I think it has something to do with me and the people I surround myself with.

It is important to me to be a good person.  I say what I believe and my actions support what I say.  I listen more than I speak.  I try to be kind to all the living creatures.  My moto for the last several years has been to be the coolest person I know.  If you don’t like something about yourself- change it.  Or if you like the way another person thinks- adopt it.  It really is that simple.

I have a few distinct groups of people that I am surrounded by.  The largest group of people I have in my life are my friends.  They are either from my work, SW’s work, or from my old favorite past time rock climbing.  I also have family, a cancer posse, and two lazy cats.  (The photo above is a shot taken from last Monday Night.  My former coworkers came over to plant fruits, veggies, and flowers in our backyard.  Love them all!)

For the most part I’ve had these people in my life pre-diagnosis.  A few have certainly come and gone.  I have a new group made up of fellow cancer patients.  I have also lost a few friends who did not want to walk the cancer path along side of me.  Most importantly, the people were already in my life AND willing to help me when the bottom fell out.

Where you find support does not matter all that much.  Common groups are family, church mates, childhood friends, neighbors or community groups, and coworkers.  Make sure you have them as you never know when you will rely on them and to what extent.