Why the Hospital is my Oasis
A Lesson on Gratitude
You’re inside the hospital after a rough day at work. Your boss got mad at you, you farted in front of your co-worker, and you spilled water all over your shirt right before an important meeting.
You then realized you had an MRI scheduled at the hospital and are now late for your appointment. You pull into the parking lot thinking that no one could be having a worse day than you.
Then you walk into the hospital and see:
- A teenage boy with a feeding tube up his nose
- A mom crouching on the ground, weeping in tears
- A dad coming in with a giant suitcase to bring stuff to an admitted family member
- A young girl in a wheelchair who can’t even move her body
- A janitor sitting against a wall, trying to sleep after a long overnight shift
Do you now still feel like you’re having the worst day ever?”
If you’ve been reading my articles so far, you’ve probably come across my cancer story at some point. I don’t try to hide it because it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Sure, it sucked like hell in the moment.
But the opportunities I got from it (whether it be media opportunities, newfound interests, and connections) along with the invaluable lessons I learned (such as mindsets like gratitude and patience), I certainly would not be where I am today as a person without this experience.
And as I now only have to visit the hospital every month or so for follow-up appointments like bloodwork, I understand even more so the beauty behind those visits.
Before my cancer diagnosis, I probably visited the hospital every 1–2 years when something unexpected came up (but no admissions or anything like that). And I’m sure many people can relate to this when I say that it felt very uncomfortable going there.
You’d see all kinds of people that are ill, be it physically or mentally. It felt very awkward in general and I would always want to leave as soon as possible.
But as I spent regular time there over the course of a year or so for my treatment, I gained a newfound appreciation for my own health.
You think anyone at CHEO wants to be there? You think anyone actually says to themselves “Yes, I am excited to get chemotherapy today!”?
Most people there would do anything to be in your shoes right now. To not have to worry just about managing the basic necessities of life.
It would be a dream come true for someone to go from having to be concerned with their own survival to having their biggest concern be what gas prices will look like this week.
During my most recent appointment, I had seen all these things that I was talking about at the start. People in wheelchairs, others wearing casts around their arms and legs, others who had trouble communicating or understanding what was going on, parents frantically running around trying to manage all the appointments, and much much more.
Then, I really just took a moment where I was sitting to turn off my phone and literally just feel my body (I encourage you to stop here and do the same). Feel how effortlessly I could move my body parts. Feel how effortlessly I could remember basic things in my head and be able to visit the hospital by myself, without the need of a parent or guardian to help me go where I needed to be.
So when I say the hospital is my oasis, what I mean is that like an actual oasis that represents a fertile spot in a desert, it represents a place of calm in the midst of all the world’s chaos.
Visiting the hospital brings life right back down to its essentials. People in the hospital couldn’t care less about which celebrity couple got divorced, the score of a sports game, or how many likes their social media post got.
All that matters to them is the health and happiness of themselves and their loved ones. ❤️
And as I’ve understood more about what this environment/lifestyle truly holds, it has given me so much more drive to be part of the solution as well.
Whether it be doing tv interviews, telethon videos, photo sessions, scientific research, or writing posts like this, seeing how devastating life in the hospital can be from a firsthand experience and wanting to reduce the suffering of these people/families is what has led me to do all the cancer-related content I do.
But for those of us who don’t expose ourselves to this world as often, or for those of us who change the tv channel when you see ads of sick people in hospitals pleading for you to donate (just because it’s “uncomfortable to watch”), you are simply robbing yourselves of understanding and appreciating the oasis in which you already live.
If you enjoyed this article, it’d be great if you give it some claps.👏 And if you haven’t done so yet, you can also connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, or follow me right here on Medium. If you’d like to stay connected on my journey, I recommend subscribing to my monthly newsletter!
And if you want to donate yourselves to this year’s CHEO Telethon (which is where I had my treatment) by June 5th, click on the link here.
Deuces! ✌
