In a World of Rushing, Cancer Taught Me to Slow Down

As a child and now an adult I remember an oft-repeated quote, “The only constant is change.” The older I get, the truer this is. As an elderly person, I feel like I can’t keep up. I grew up in an era where, in the evenings, we would sit on our front porch and visit neighbors and friends to keep cool because of no air conditioning. Now in the computer digital age, we are on our tablets getting digital news, Facebook, Instagram and 24-hour broadcasts on television. Our phones pop up with the latest news and we feel forced to read it. We feel guilty for not being active all the time and keep receiving articles on how to make the best use of our time. We are always in a hurry, but I often ask myself where I’m going and why I’m rushing. Keeping up with the newest technology is nearly impossible for anyone, but especially for older people. Tim Tincher wrote an article called “Smartphone usage surges 13% in 2024.” His data showed that between smartphones, television, tablets and computers, the average American spends 16 hours and 10 minutes on devices. Millennials and Gen Z spend more than six hours per day on their phones. No wonder they become experts on these devices! I feel inadequate daily because I do not know how to use these devices to save time. I have been extremely frustrated working on my latest book and what I do not know.

Traffic in the city and driving in fast lanes are difficult for me. Everyone seems to be in a hurry and it is impossible for me to keep up. It takes me longer to get ready to go anywhere than it used to. I remember my parents complaining about being slow and now I understand it!

Cancer changes our lives even more. We have to slow down, we feel fatigued easily and we spend hours with doctors, in hospital waiting rooms or getting treatments. My friends my age often brag about getting up early and talk about all they can do in one day. With the fatigue from my myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), I am forced to stop and take frequent breaks to rest.

How do I cope with this? I have days I do not schedule anything, not even going grocery shopping. I get up when I feel like it. I sip coffee and read my books. I take my dog for a walk and enjoy the sights. Sometimes I go to a local coffee shop and sit on the patio. I refuse to hurry. Sometimes I do not even write! Sometimes I binge-watch “NCIS” on the television. It is not often enough but I do it whenever I can.

Yes, we are all inundated with change and the digital world. And it is OK to slow ourselves down. No one else will do it for us. The wonderful thing is when we go back to being busier, we feel more rested and energetic. We can control our lives and our clock and are healthier for it!

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