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"My cancer didn’t tell me not to help others"
Even in the face of adversity, the capacity for kindness knows no limits.
WizeDaily
November 24, 2023
In today’s email 🧙
● If you had 6 months to live, would you do the same?
Friday Story
Six months. That’s how much time he had to live. Give or take.
As I strolled through the parking lot, the weight of a heavy diagnosis clung to me like a shadow.
I had just delivered the news to my patient Henry: Brain cancer. a sentence that hung ominously over him. The gravity of that moment echoed in my mind.
I pictured him going home to tell his family, his wife, daughter, and his little grandson.
This was surely the worst possible news anyone could receive.
How would his life change?
All sorts of questions raced through my mind.
I had broken bad news to thousands of patients during my long career, but Henry - he stood out.
I don’t know why. maybe it was because he was just an incredible human being. A larger than life character.
By now exhausted and ready to go home, I hurried towards the parking lot.
It was starting to rain heavily.
Lost in thought, I caught sight of an elderly gentleman fumbling with tools near a stalled car.
As I approached, I got a good old shock. My eyes couldn’t believe it.
I could see the elderly man handing tools to someone working under his stalled car.
To my surprise, that someone was none other than Henry!
"Henry! what are you doing?!" I called out, my curiosity piqued.
Henry, seemingly unfazed by his recent grim diagnosis, dusted off his pants and looked up with a warm smile.
"My cancer didn’t tell me not to help others" he smiled, his spirit seemingly undeterred.
In astonishment, I continued my walk before stopping a few hundred yards away. I wanted to just observe this happening from a distance. I was still in disbelief.
I turned around to look at the two men.
A few minutes went by.
Then Henry gestured to the man beneath the car, indicating that it was time to start the engine.
As the car roared to life, the car owner thanked Henry profusely, his eyes reflecting genuine appreciation. With a wave, he drove off, leaving Henry standing there, his modest act of kindness rippling through the parking lot.
Henry, with a sense of quiet satisfaction, made his way back to his own car. In that moment, the weight of the cancer diagnosis seemed to momentarily lift, replaced by the warmth of human connection and the simple joy of helping someone in need.
As he pulled away, the undeniable truth lingered in the air: kindness knows no boundaries, and it certainly doesn't discriminate based on circumstances.
Henry, facing his own battle, had chosen to extend a helping hand, reminding all who witnessed that even in the face of adversity, the capacity for kindness knows no limits.
In the quiet of the parking lot, the echo of Henry's gesture lingered, leaving a poignant reminder that in acts of kindness, we find a universal language that transcends the boundaries of illness, age, and circumstance.
Quote 📝
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.
Book Pearl 📚
The human spirit's ability to overcome adversity is astonishing.
Her story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Helen Keller, despite being both deaf and blind, demonstrated an unyielding determination to not only communicate but also to engage with the world intellectually.
She learned to communicate, breaking through the isolation imposed by her disabilities. Throughout her life, she traveled extensively, visiting more than three dozen countries to advocate for the rights and well-being of people with disabilities.
She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States' highest civilian honors, in 1964.
Just Some Thoughts 💭
● Black Friday is actually great. Your inbox is bombarded with marketing emails - a great way to unsubscribe from all the email lists you didn’t even know you were part of!
● Why is Bill short for William?
Wize Links ⚡
Why do we follow or entertain people we hate??? - Link