Sue’s Gift Blog

Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

Lessons from Harold

I have been an oncology social worker for over 35 years, and during that time, I shared many patients with my husband, a counselor at the cancer center where we both worked. We learned several lessons over the years from those who had a cancer diagnosis. One of the most valuable came from Harold.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

Amid The Storm

We've all been there amid the storm, both literally and figuratively: the ferocious rainstorm that seemed never ending with raging torrents of water eliciting fear of drowning, the blinding blizzard making it impossible to see the front end of your car, not to mention the vehicles ahead of you; the enormous tornado cloud that surely brought a run-away train with it along with damaging wind and flying objects leaving both humans and structures battered...all storms that were potentially life-threatening and something you didn't want to be part of.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

I’m Ok—Really

When I was an undergraduate student many years ago, a book entitled I’m Ok—You’re Ok by Thomas A. Harris, M.D., was very popular. The book’s subtitle is “A Practical Guide to Transactional Analysis,” and centers on a method for solving problems in life.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

Unexpected Opportunities

You know how you had life planned out...what you wanted and expected? Then, despite all the planning and dreaming, it didn’t turn out exactly how you thought it would. Looking back over my life, expectations, and hopes for the future, many things are different than I thought. And almost without exception, even when I couldn't see the road ahead, much turned out better than I could have envisioned.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

In The Meantime…

I clearly remember her – not her name, but her…the patient on the oncology unit who talked wistfully about her long-standing desire to take art classes, specifically painting classes, when she retired. I was 45 years old when we met, and I made myself a promise that day. I vowed then not to wait until I no longer had kids at home, was older, retired, financially comfortable, or thought I had enough discretionary time to do fun, enjoyable, interesting, or mind-stretching activities. I wouldn’t wait.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

Remember

There are times when irreconcilable circumstances happen – things that can’t be undone, like a cancer diagnosis, a tragic accident, or words that were said but can’t be unsaid. Each leaves a wound. Amid such difficulty, it can feel like a marathon that never ends.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

Get Over It?

She was diagnosed with cancer, underwent months of treatment and finally, she was in remission. Her hair had grown back; she was going to the gym; she was stronger.

His wife died six months ago. He was back at work the week after her death. He was paying the bills, doing the laundry, and cooking, which didn’t require much effort because he was rarely hungry.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

The Bridge

How many of us have needed a bridge to cross difficult terrain or deep water to get to safer ground, whether literally or figuratively?

Even now, thinking about crossing the Royal Gorge Bridge many years ago triggers a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I can still see my fingernails digging into the car’s dashboard and feel my heart pounding as I realized we were only halfway across what seemed like a mile-long span. The bridge was strong but so was my extraordinary fear of heights.

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Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin Overcoming Adversity Sherry Martin

Recalculating

I remember being excited about getting our first car GPS system. I was both amused and frustrated when, upon taking a different route than the one outlined in the system, the voice would say, “Recalculating! Recalculating!” Amused… that it responded that way; frustrated… when it kept repeating the phrase over and over.

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About The Author

Sherry Martin is the Patient Services Director for Sue's Gift. Sherry is a licensed clinical social worker with over thirty-five years of experience in the field of oncology social work, and author of the book, Beginning Again: Tools for the Journey through Grief — a step-by-step guide for facilitators of a grief support group. Sherry lives with her husband in Colorado Springs, Colorado.