Distraction Therapy

Distraction Therapy – our Curtains & Blinds business and house project ..

Rock climbing was my sport for many years so getting scaffolding to paint the awkward access house gable seemed a bit unnecessary, though the neighbours would've preferred it I think, my rope access technique seemed to make them nervous. 

I think all the time: ‘my illness is not going to spoil my day’. With an uncertain number of days ahead, I’m not going to let anything spoil the ones I’ve got. That’s much easier said than done of course - particularly at 4am - but what works for me is work. Keeping immersed in work is perfect Distraction Therapy. The more mentally challenging the better. With my mind occupied I spend much less time thinking about being ill. For me, that really helps. It’s easy to be consumed by the doom and gloom of cancer and that drags you down and spoils every day if you let it.

We also have a Curtains & Blinds business to keep me very busy:  www.jobrowncurtainsandblinds.co.uk

Cancer is really hard for everyone around you. Particularly for a spouse. And you feel really guilty because it’s not just your life that’s been ruined. So, I find myself being the endlessly cheerful one, the amusing (hopefully!) asides, trying to raise everyone’s spirits. Why the hell am I doing this I think, shouldn’t they be trying to cheer me up? But actually, it’s no bad thing. For me, constantly being cheerful helps them and it helps me keep out of the pit of despair.

People always talk about ‘battling cancer’. It’s not a battle, it’s definitely a war. A war with many battles, endless it seems. Hopefully endless in fact. It’s really hard, but it’s a lot better than being gone. Never give up.