''You Beat Cancer By How You Live, Why You Live, And The Manner In Which You Live Today''

''You Beat Cancer By How You Live, Why You Live, And The Manner In Which You Live Today''

Stuart Scott, one of the greatest ESPN sports announcers died of cancer at 49 years old. He fought it for 7 years. During those years he remained dedicated to his craft even as he underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. 

Scott made a point of continuing to live his life -- at work and outside of it.  ''Who engages in mixed martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments?'' ESPN said in a statement: ''Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set?'' Scott spent those seven years getting the most out of life both professionally and socially.

I truly hope no one who is reading this blog has cancer or any other life threatening disease. However, what if you did? How would you react? Would you put on your "woe is me" hat and feel sorry for yourself? Would you wallow in the overwhelming frustration and depression of others feeling sorry for you? 

Would you change the way you're living today? Would you get angry at yourself and others? Would shut out those who want to care for you? Would you feel that life is not worth living? As Fraud said: "would you fight or flee?"

Everyone likes to think they would fight. But, until it happens (which I hope a million times over it never would) you just don't know. Some of you have seen others go through this. Do you identify with the ones that fight or the ones that flee? Do you feel sorry for the ones that stop living life? Do you feel great about the ones that fight while still enjoying what life they have left?

Even though I just said: "you'll never know how you'll react until it happens to you," I have an answer that's so simple it might just be right. My answer is: "how are you living your life now!"

Do you currently love your life? Do you have many true friends? Do you appreciate what you have? Do you appreciate the beauty of your surroundings? Do you give love and get love back? Do you do the things that make you happy? 

Do you give positive energy out to the Universe? Do you accept what's happening for now while you do everything in your control to change the outcome for the better? Do you ask for what you want, but, don't demand it? Do you accept support from the people who care for you. 

Do you believe the future is positive? Do you forgive the people who, in the past, made you unhappy? Are you the one who's positive energy is the envy of the the people you work with and the people who know you at the social level?

In my opinion the answer is more simple than even I imagine. Stuart Scott might no longer be here on earth, but his statement is the best answer I can think of:

''You Beat Cancer (Or Any Other Life Threatening Disease) By How You Live, Why You Live, And The Manner In Which You Live Today''