“Just because Fate doesn’t deal you the right cards, it doesn’t mean you should give up. It just means you have to play the cards you get to their maximum potential.” ~ Les Brown
How do you handle bad news?
Whether its an unwanted health diagnosis, a pink slip at work, learning your spouse is cheating, or the shocking phone call delivering news that a loved one has died or been in a terrible accident, receiving bad news is inevitable. At one time or another, it happens to us all.
I should receive a gold medal for being the champion of receiving bad news. Three years ago I was laid off from teaching, two years ago I lost my house in foreclosure because by teaching at a Catholic school I wasn’t entitled to collect unemployment in Massachusetts, and working three small jobs couldn’t pay the mortgage.
Three years ago, I also received my first health scare; a silent killer was living inside me: cervical cancer.
For three years, I’ve undergone biopsies and countless tests, treatments, and doctor visits. Six months ago I was finally given a clean bill of health. That was six months ago.
Today I learned that the cancer had come back.
Sitting in the doctor’s office, receiving the news, I felt like the Charles Schulz character, Charlie Brown, listening to his classroom teacher: “Wah, Wah, Wah…”
The news was incomprehensible. I recalled only a few of the doctor’s words driving home: “It’s concerning….the numbers are bad…high risk…more biopsies…we’ll wait and see…”
Once I pulled into my driveway, I entered my living room where my puppy Bella greeted me and danced around my legs, walked over to my kitchen table that was cluttered with late credit card and utility bills, and held a pity party for myself. Yep, I cupped my face in my hands and had a good cry.
Now what?
Even though it was a beautiful summer day and already 11 a.m., I went back to bed. Pulling a sheet over my head, I pleaded with sleep to free me from processing this bad news. But following more tears, I decided it was time to grab the news by the handle and not the blade.
What thoughts were racing through my head?
“I’m not the first person to receive bad news like this…It could be worse…Stop feeling sorry for yourself!…Think about the people who have braved tornadoes and lost everything…I’ve been through this before, I’ll get through it…”
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