Telling The People You Love – Part 1
This is one of the hardest things I’ve done in my 56 years of life. It comes in 3 stages kind of, or at least it did for me. Some of it … I just couldn’t do. Luckily for me, my spouse offered … and that was unbelievably helpful and something I will not forget as long as I live.
My first reaction was that I didn’t want to tell anyone I knew, whether friend, family, folks at work, children …. even the local folks in the grocery store and places like that. We live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, so its impossible to keep quiet for any length of time. I don’t know why I didn’t want to tell people … maybe it was fear of rejection, or losing friendships and acquaintences. I really can’t say why … but it is the way I felt.
Getting down to business:
First off, there’s your friends and folks at work. One of the odd things about this, is that I had just started a new job … and when I say just … I mean like 2 weeks into it. The folks where I work were so nice even just to hire me … so it felt really awkward. I didn’t know these folks and here I am telling them that I can no longer do the job I was hired for … man, I was scared … but I had to do it.
Then I had my friends. Being a programmer, business owner, artist I have had dealings with lots and lots of people online. I like to keep in touch with folks when they move away or switch jobs … you know, you end up with a slew of friends all around the globe these days.
I am a person who values his friendships … once a friend, always a friend. Even if I don’t speak or write to someone for a year or two it doesn’t mean our friendship is gone …. it’s understood. Friends are friends.
But, as friends and co-workers started to hear the news of my diagnosis, I was surprised at how easily and wonderfully they accepted it. My co-workers, even though I hardly knew them, reached to help and help in a big way. My friends did the same. As a matter of fact, I recieved so much help and offers of help, that I just couldn’t believe it. I thank them all, and love them all for it.
