Read Online Chicken Soup for the Cancer Survivor's Soul by Jack Canfield - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jack Canfield
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for me. I wasn’t afraid at all.
Before long, I joined the school flag squad, I learned to ride a bicycle and I went out for the swim team. I thought back to track team in eighth grade, how I’d quit before I’d even given it a fair try. So now, even though I was slow and it was tough, I stuck with it. By the end of the season, I was winning races.
But through it all, skiing remained my first love, and one day I was lucky enough to meet Paul DiBello, a skier on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. Before I knew it I was training with Winter Park’s own handicapped competition program, which is coached by Paul. It’s been the ultimate challenge; every minute is a thrill. Next year I go out for the national team. Watch out! I’m coming!
Sometimes when I’m drifting in a ski lift over a snow-covered mountain, I think about how if I hadn’t had cancer, I probably wouldn’t even be skiing—or swimming, or biking, or anything.
Getting sick was no joy, and I certainly wouldn’t want to go through it again, ever. But I did have family and friends and God to help me see that something good can come out of just about anything. Cancer gave me a courage I’d never had before—the courage to conquer with one leg what I once couldn’t even face with two.
Adrienne Rivera
Peanuts ©1996. United Feature Syndicate.
Reprinted by permission.
“Never Give Up!”
Sir Winston Churchill took three years getting through eighth grade because he had trouble learning English. It seems ironic that years later Oxford University asked him to address its commencement exercises. He arrived with his usual props. A cigar, a cane and a top hat accompanied Churchill wherever he went. As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause. With unmatched dignity, he settled the crowd and stood confident before his admirers. Removing the cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium, Churchill gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang in Churchill’s voice as he shouted, “Never give up!” Several seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated: “Never give up!” His words thundered in their ears. There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane and left the platform. His commencement address was finished.
Speaker’s Sourcebook II
Don't EVER give up!
Not Without a Fight
L ife is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.
John Lennon
My life until July of 1992 was unusually full. The mother of seven children, I also held a full-time teaching position and was a re-habber of aging houses. I was positive, I was invincible and depended heavily on my Irish luck to remain so. It occurred to me in early spring that I had not had a mammogram in several years. Some weeks later, my eldest daughter received word from Loyola University in Chicago that she was the recipient of a fellowship to pursue her master’s degree. She invited me to accompany her to Chicago to find an apartment. I was excited because with my family size, we seldom have the opportunity to spend long periods of time alone together. Checking my calendar, I realized that I had an appointment at 10 o’clock the same day for my checkup. I was tempted to cancel and reschedule. However, I thought I’d just run in, do my thing and then I’d leave for Chicago right away.
Everything proceeded normally until the technician returned to the room and said, “Mrs. Brindell, I’d like to take another picture of your left side.” Irritated to have to endure another uncomfortable procedure, I hesitantly agreed. Time was passing quickly, and I found myself watching the clock. Didn’t these people know that I had made an important date with my daughter? I didn’t want to disappoint her. I considered dressing and walking out. After all, it wasn’t my fault if the technician couldn’t get a clear picture! For some reason, I remained there and again the technician returned saying,
Before long, I joined the school flag squad, I learned to ride a bicycle and I went out for the swim team. I thought back to track team in eighth grade, how I’d quit before I’d even given it a fair try. So now, even though I was slow and it was tough, I stuck with it. By the end of the season, I was winning races.
But through it all, skiing remained my first love, and one day I was lucky enough to meet Paul DiBello, a skier on the U.S. Disabled Ski Team. Before I knew it I was training with Winter Park’s own handicapped competition program, which is coached by Paul. It’s been the ultimate challenge; every minute is a thrill. Next year I go out for the national team. Watch out! I’m coming!
Sometimes when I’m drifting in a ski lift over a snow-covered mountain, I think about how if I hadn’t had cancer, I probably wouldn’t even be skiing—or swimming, or biking, or anything.
Getting sick was no joy, and I certainly wouldn’t want to go through it again, ever. But I did have family and friends and God to help me see that something good can come out of just about anything. Cancer gave me a courage I’d never had before—the courage to conquer with one leg what I once couldn’t even face with two.
Adrienne Rivera
Peanuts ©1996. United Feature Syndicate.
Reprinted by permission.
“Never Give Up!”
Sir Winston Churchill took three years getting through eighth grade because he had trouble learning English. It seems ironic that years later Oxford University asked him to address its commencement exercises. He arrived with his usual props. A cigar, a cane and a top hat accompanied Churchill wherever he went. As Churchill approached the podium, the crowd rose in appreciative applause. With unmatched dignity, he settled the crowd and stood confident before his admirers. Removing the cigar and carefully placing the top hat on the podium, Churchill gazed at his waiting audience. Authority rang in Churchill’s voice as he shouted, “Never give up!” Several seconds passed before he rose to his toes and repeated: “Never give up!” His words thundered in their ears. There was a deafening silence as Churchill reached for his hat and cigar, steadied himself with his cane and left the platform. His commencement address was finished.
Speaker’s Sourcebook II
Don't EVER give up!
Not Without a Fight
L ife is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.
John Lennon
My life until July of 1992 was unusually full. The mother of seven children, I also held a full-time teaching position and was a re-habber of aging houses. I was positive, I was invincible and depended heavily on my Irish luck to remain so. It occurred to me in early spring that I had not had a mammogram in several years. Some weeks later, my eldest daughter received word from Loyola University in Chicago that she was the recipient of a fellowship to pursue her master’s degree. She invited me to accompany her to Chicago to find an apartment. I was excited because with my family size, we seldom have the opportunity to spend long periods of time alone together. Checking my calendar, I realized that I had an appointment at 10 o’clock the same day for my checkup. I was tempted to cancel and reschedule. However, I thought I’d just run in, do my thing and then I’d leave for Chicago right away.
Everything proceeded normally until the technician returned to the room and said, “Mrs. Brindell, I’d like to take another picture of your left side.” Irritated to have to endure another uncomfortable procedure, I hesitantly agreed. Time was passing quickly, and I found myself watching the clock. Didn’t these people know that I had made an important date with my daughter? I didn’t want to disappoint her. I considered dressing and walking out. After all, it wasn’t my fault if the technician couldn’t get a clear picture! For some reason, I remained there and again the technician returned saying,
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