I’ve often been called a Stoic, and it’s a label I’ve come to understand and appreciate deeply. Stoicism, an ancient Greek philosophy, teaches the power of self-control and resilience to navigate life’s challenges. It emphasizes living in harmony with nature and reason, striving for inner peace, and facing life’s ups and downs with a calm…

Years ago, I found myself captivated by James Clavell’s epic novel, Shogun. The character that left the deepest impression on me was Lord Toranaga. He embodied qualities I greatly admire: strategic thinking, bravery, astuteness, adaptability, and patience. There’s one scene early in the book that stands out as my favorite. In this scene, Toranaga is…

7th, and final, post in my weekly series on Living with Cancer – As a cancer patient forced into retirement, I found myself with both time and a still-active mind, wondering, “What now?” For a short while, I allowed myself to float aimlessly, lost in the sea of unpredictability cancer had thrown me into. But…

6th Post in My Weekly Series on Living with Cancer. Having endured more than 100 chemotherapy sessions, I have learned many coping mechanisms for difficult situations. One of them is managing expectations. Chemotherapy brings with it a whirlwind of nausea, for which strong steroids are often prescribed. These steroids steal away the sweet escape of…

5th Post in My Weekly Series on Living with Cancer. Cancer has a way of changing one’s life priorities! In my Op-Ed in the Chicago Tribune sixteen months ago, readers reacted most positively to the following thought. “Cancer ravaged me physically but cured my small mental stresses. I asked myself if I was happier before…

4th Post in My Weekly Series on Living with Cancer. It is possible to be happy living with cancer, or any other adversity, if one can view the proverbial glass as half full rather than half empty. There is no magical formula that teaches us how to do it. So, I am simply sharing two…

3rd Post in My Weekly Series on Living with Cancer. I derive inspiration from many sources, even fictional characters. Lord Toranaga, a remarkable character in James Clavell’s novel Shogun, inspired me to learn to compartmentalize 40 years ago. Little did I realize this technique would become my fortress in battling cancer. Compartmentalization isn’t just a…

2nd Post in my Weekly Series on Living with Cancer. It is not easy to find the right words when we visit a friend who has been diagnosed with a serious illness. I have been fortunate to receive many, many words of sympathy and encouragement. I appreciate them all. However, I’ve come to realize that…

1st Post in My Weekly Series on Living with Cancer. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer at the age of 53. I had procrastinated getting my colonoscopy ever since I turned 50. By procrastinating, I had likely allowed my cancer to metastasize from my colon to the liver making it Stage 4, instead of…