Hammad on family

* Hammad is my biggest inspiration in running for the American Cancer Society in the Chicago Marathon this fall. I wanted to share his thoughts on the importance of family for cancer patients. Your overwhelming support has helped me get to 78% of my fundraising goal; you can contribute at http://bit.ly/abbasacs.*

One of the questions I’m asked most about my time with cancer is how I was able to mentally cope with having the disease, not to mention treatment itself. While it certainly was a testing time in my life, I never fail to mention how taxing it was upon my family, not just physically, but emotionally. We often forget that hardships and tribulations affect not just individuals, but also the lives of those around them. When we hear of someone being stricken by illness, we naturally focus upon their suffering. Of course, the affected person is and should be the main focus of all attention, but it is easy to forget that the battle against cancer is fought and won not only through the resolve of patients and through the expertise of their physicians, but just as importantly through friends and family, always there to care for, listen to, and emotionally support their loved one. For my parents, my cancer experience was a life changing experience, but they took on the challenge with optimism that even I, as a young man, did not have. My mother was in constant prayer and prostration, my father left his professional obligations for months, and my younger sister often felt guilty for being out with her friends rather than keeping me company. My family made me a priority above everything else, and they were there for me for my every need, doing small things that made all the difference, such as staying up late and sacrificing their sleep even if only to give me a glass of water. All of these were sacrifices for which I will be forever thankful and without which I would not have been able to overcome the most difficult tribulation of my life.

Abbas’ endeavor to run the Chicago Marathon and raise funds for the American Cancer Society is noble and thoughtful not just because ACS works to support cancer patients, themselves deserving of our attention, but also because ACS works to help family, friends, and others who help cancer patients throughout their treatment and recovery process. By donating, you can help ACS help those who selflessly put their own lives on hold, all the while still being able to smile, laugh, and look towards the future with optimism even when the present is gloomy.

Thank you Abbas for remembering our unsung heroes.

Living in the present

**Last week your generosity helped the donation total jump to 46% of my goal! Thanks for your continued support in my running the 2010 Chicago Marathon for the American Cancer Society: http://bitl.ly/abbasacs **

by me

A friend of mine had a near death experience in college that touched my life profoundly. I got to know him shortly after he recovered from a near fatal accident. He taught me that being victim to the past is avoidable. That we can transcend the struggles we’ve faced to make meaning out of our lives. And to take stock of the present and be truly grateful for what we have. I try to carry that lesson with me wherever I go, and try not to lose sight of all the good things that make the present something I’m lucky to be experiencing.

Countless people affected and killed by cancer come to the very same conclusion. What we have control over is the present, and what we can do to improve the lives of others is worth focusing on. You can do just that by joining me in supporting the American Cancer Society. Every donation gives families affected by cancer a richer present to enjoy with their loved ones.

Awakening inner strength

Having your life on hold because of a big decision that’s held up really sucks. So I’m choosing not to.

by netsnake

For about five weeks, I’ve been waiting on permission to enter India and attend a language program at the American Institute of Indian Studies in Lucknow. Tough to describe the churning in my stomach as the start date for the program approached, arrived, and passed me by some weeks back. It was particularly hard to swallow that the fallout from the Headley debaucle created a huge backlog at the Embassy and Consulates General stateside and referred cases, such as little old mine, to the Ministry of Home Affairs for “final approval.”  While I agree with the need for security, this all seems a lot of bureaucracy with questionable effectiveness.

However, I have felt so much better after acknowledging feeling powerless, and making the decision to move past it and awaken inner strength. The strength to tell the people I love that I do and appreciate all they do for me. To work on ideas and projects that excite and challenge me that were on the shelf before this unexpected wait. And strength to start cutting through the white noise that can’t help but build up within an overscheduled life.

Niebuhr was onto something with his Serenity Prayer. And my mother was onto something with her personal mantra to me as I grew up with a view of life that was afraid of the unexpected. It encapsulates all the best parts of making the best situations that you don’t want or expect. I hope to write from India in the near future, but until then I’ve made this advice what I eat, breathe and sleep:

Be flexible.