stand up

I've taken a break from watching CNN's recap of Palin's one liners to watch the cancer special.

Here's some advice they said:

stop smoking
don't start smoking
manage your stress
get screened
get your skin examined
eat less red meat
exercise
know your family history
eat broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower

Here's what I have to add:
stop being a dick to each other
stop being a dick to yourself
stop buying US Weekly
stop reading gossip sites
stop eating sugar
stop cutting each other off in traffic
stop wishing you had more
stop bitching about gas prices
salute the sun in the morning and the evening
drink water
reflect
kiss more
believe in who you are, everyday, no matter what
and be happy
...especially if you're cancer free

I was part of the company that cast a bunch of these 'stand up' commercials and listened to story after story of cancer survivors and family members having lost loved ones.

As I watch, it feels like yesterday we got the news about Nan. The last walk together on the treadmill. The last phone call before I walked down the aisle. The last breath.

It never goes away.
It never fucking goes away.

GIVE

Got any advice to add to this list?

Comments

[tony]

As someone else once said, dance like no one is watching.

You are your own person, let them take you or leave you as you are; take them for who they are.

Be who you want to be, don't hurt others, and remember this *is* life, stop waiting for life to happen.

[Kara]

Actually, red meat isn't bad for you if you eat it in moderation and eat lean cuts. :)

Pigging out on a 1lb steak, not so awesome. But a 7-oz filet once a week, not so bad.

[Upquark]

I like the stop stuff.

How about:

You are a part of the human race. Act like it, idiot.

[nashira]

Hmmm... What about "Stop watching Sarah Palin".

[Felicity]

I like...Don't be so bloody ignorant!

(Is that too Aussie for you?)

[KatieKatie]

give up coffee.

My step-dad had colon cancer and he had been warned before he got it to give up coffee and he didn't do it.

He's not here now.

[Sumo]

Do you know how the Stand Up To Cancer group's mission/focus/strategy differs from the American Cancer Society? I guess I should be asking them.

[golfwidow]

My mother had no family history and was doing all the things they said to do, and got it anyway.

My advice, once you get it, is to have your picture taken BEFORE your eyebrows fall out, so you know how to draw them back in until they grow back. My mom looked like the grandma in "Queer as Folk" for months, and I couldn't stand it.

[Kenny G.]

Thank you for this post. I'm one of the lucky ones: My mom was diagnosed early, and all seems good after they took a part of her lung out....
Keep up the fight, we're all here with you.

[Marly]

I have enough friends fighting cancer to know two things....

1) out of fear....don't abandon the family while they are fighting the cancer because they need all the support you can give them...

2) should your friend or family member lose the battle...don't abandon those left behind because they have already lost someone dear to them and they need you to help them face life again.