new normal

I have stage 4 kidney cancer, clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. I was convinced most of my life I would never be a cancer patient. I can’t really explain why, just not something I ever worried about. My life, my normal, has changed completely since my diagnosis. Right now, I can tell you that in some ways my life is better than it was, more fulfilling. I appreciate it more.  I have more time with family. I have pursued interests that were on the back burner and made some great new friends. I don’t know what the future will bring, and I don’t dwell on it. In the end no one knows the future, right? In the past three years, I think I have had many experiences common to cancer patients. I’ve learned so much about loss. Loss of health. Loss of control. Loss of employment. Loss of contact with so...