Coping Humor
Community Medical Center hosted their second Voices of Hope Cancer Education Summit this week. My personal interest in attending this event was because I wanted to listen to the cancer survivor stories to learn about their coping strategies. Both women shared how they used humor to deal with awkward moments, wore goofy hats to cover their bald heads, and joked about how they were going to pay their outrageous bills. Both women offered this advice, “When someone asks you if they can do something to help you, say yes. Let people help you.”
Joni Rodgers, best selling author of “bald in the land of big hair,” shared how her cancer experience led her to write two novels and how she became a best selling author, even before she wrote her memoir. Joni told her cancer story with humor and truthfulness. When Joni was diagnosed in 1994, doctors predicted that Joni would live 5 years. That was 16 years ago. Joni’s advice is to regard the things that happen to you (cancer) as events in your life, transformational events that transform you. Remember to keep living your life.
Humor is a coping strategy that is also prevalent among brain injury survivors to help us accept our loss and deal with frustrations. Humor provides a wall of protection that cushions and comforts us when life seems unfair or makes no sense.
During sensitive times of illness, it’s easy to get confused about when or how to use humor. If you want to learn more about using humor in sensitive times, here’s an article I wrote:
Seven Guidelines to Use Humor in Sensitive Situations.
Comments
Great advice, Lois. After I survived my bout with breast cancer, I started “going for it” more often. I took a trip to Alaska, joined an equestrian drill team, started to learn Spanish, began writing a second book and learned to cook from scratch. Once I recognized my mortality, I quit putting things on the back burner and made them happen. I’ve never been happier!
Kim,
Thank you for sharing. I relate to what you said. After we experience a “life-changing” event, our priorities shift. Some of the “things” that occupied our time and attention get pushed to the back burner where they belong, so we can make time and give our attention to people and passions that used to be on our tomorrow list. Happiness is the blessed reward for persevering through the suffering. Plus the confidence gained in learning you are stronger than you knew. Congratulations on all the new territory you are exploring!
Your friend, Lois
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