QOL Fast Blast!: The Paradigm Shift of Cancer Life
This won’t be a long post, but one I feel very necessary. The point isn’t to make anyone feel bad about finding humor in it. I think it’s kind of funny though it does border on a style of humor I usually don’t like… humor that pokes fun at those getting hurt. But in this case, it’s fairly ridiculous. I could say more, but I just want to get to the point. Let’s start with this short video someone sent me on instagram.
In case you can’t watch it… or just don’t have time for that kind of bullllllshiiiiit, it’s a guy getting out of a car in winter weather, slipping on an ice patch, and doing a remarkable job of not falling for a really long time before ultimately landing in some nearby snow.
The reason why I feel the need to share it is that I think it illustrates perfectly the difference between people with serious health issues and those that don’t. To the normies, they see a dude that may or may not be intoxicated looking like a cartoon character. Maybe it’s funny to them, maybe it’s not, but it doesn’t really trigger much in the way of thought.
But for me, it got me reflecting on how it reminded me of how I feel pretty much perpetually with a brain tumor in the balance center (aka vestibular region) of my skull. I may not be running in place like this person but mostly because I’ve gotten used to dissociating my body from the way my head feels. I just trust that my legs and core will keep me from stumbling over… pretty much anything.
I do think cancer patients tend to get self-absorbed and I try quite a bit to not get lost in that, but the different reactions people have to a video like this explain why it’s hard for most of us to stop thinking of cancer throughout the day. Generally, I don’t think about life or death issues (though I definitely do sometimes). Instead, I am constantly reminded of the ways my life is impacted.
I watch a video like this and I see myself navigating walking across a room. I may laugh at it, but I’m also laughing at the ridiculousness of my daily life. It’s how me and many others cope. For many, it might be triggering and feel like people laughing at this video are laughing at someone like them. I’m not saying any of it is right or wrong, but hopefully, it’ll help some reading this that living with cancer is so much more than many understand.
We can’t stop thinking about cancer, because there are constant reminders. We can’t control that from happening, but we can choose how we react to those moments. For better or worse, I tend to choose to laugh and poke fun. I really should dive into the complexity of that strategy, but I’ll save it for the future, Instead, enjoy this 80s classic.
Like cancer patients, know that Naked Eyes were so much more than what people think. They had FOUR top ten hits. I know I was surprised to learn that but then I checked some of them out and recognized them all. But they likely have been largely assumed to be a one-hit wonder because they could’ve been like so many others of that time. Just one British new wave band lost in crowd. Much like how many cancer patients can get lost in a crowd of healthy folks. But I’m getting cringily reflective so I’m going to sign off… for now.
I'm interested in hearing more about how your brain and body disconnect, if you want to talk more about it.
"Promises, Promises" was everywhere when I was growing up. It's not their best song, but it was ubiquitous for a few years there.
I would have never guessed that Naked Eyes had four top 10 hits. Sometimes sick humor is the only thing that saves us from otherwise horrible situations. We each have to figure out what works for us.