What kind of F’d up tic-tac-toe is this?
Sitting in the sports bar at Sea-Tac airport I had a flashback to my jock days. All of my childhood and most of my young adulthood I was a jock involved in traditional team sports. I distinctly remember coaches shouting at me and my teammates to have “mental toughness”. Being the good little jock I was, I would hear what they say and follow orders.
It’s hard for me to remember exactly what I thought mental toughness was. Was it not to be distracted with what I was going to wear to the school dance or if my interest was in the gym or not? I suppose it really only plays a role as we age or experience some trauma. Mental toughness has been significant to me since the cancer diagnosis.
I shoot for the moon and accept wherever it is I land. Trying harder than anything to not be upset at myself for my self-imposed inadequacies.
Aquarius vs. Cancer 
Mental Toughness. You’ve not seen mental toughness! No Really! you were way too far ahead to see me choke down my vomit, rally my spasming legs, and surge to a barely acceptable distance behind my one-lunged tormentor to see any of that “genuine” mental toughness. Alas I shall not be available for a further demonstration until the cramps go away, perhaps by next spring? Thanks for the great bike ride!
Thanks for making me laugh!
Hi Kim, I’m another young lung cancer patient and my nurse sent me a link to your blog. I was diagnosed six years ago. I just wanted to say hi and I appreciate your writing and sharing. Looks like we have some similarities in life, at least crizotinib and bike riding. Check out my blog and feel free to say hi if you want.
Hi Liz. Thanks for sharing your blog with me. I’ll certainly read up on you when I get home from my vacation. Thanks for reading my blog!
I hope Daryl feels better! Mental toughness, damn straight, cancer does make you tough and brave.
Yes! We are all extremely tough and brave.