Cancer is a Lesson
I recently came across a quote on someone's words of wisdom Instagram page. It read, "Be the person you needed when you were younger." And it made me laugh. Because I was the person I needed when I was younger - for so very many years. But what about the person you need now? When you are older and life is turned upside down? Up until the COVID pandemic and my cancer diagnosis (I was informed I had cancer via a phonecall a year into the COVID isolation), I had attended Shabbat services. In my Jewish faith, every Shabbat a list of people's names would be read as we prayed for healing. The special prayer, Misheberach, hopefully brought peace to many in various ways. For me, it was also a way of learning who in my community might need some extra support or comfort. I did not need a "caring committee", nor any form of organization. What I did, I did on my own, believing it was my obligation to help others. I would re...