Cancer And Going The Extra Mile

Going the extra mile means to do more than one is required to do and be willing to make a special effort to achieve something. The ‘extra mile’ is that heroic extra effort.

That seems to apply to cancer pretty well.

Everything is a big effort and we all have to go above and beyond.

It obligates you to stretch, struggle, square the circle, fight tooth and nail, move heaven and earth & shoot for the moon. Some days it feels like we have to go the ‘extra, extra mile’.

The daily effort of living with cancer does indeed call for something extraordinary but this is certainly not a requirement.

If you don’t fancy going the extra mile then you don’t have to. It might be that going the extra inch is more suitable.

Cancer and cancer treatment takes its toll and there should be no pressure to push yourself anymore than you feel capable of. Some days, I’ve been so physically exhausted, I’ve not had the energy to go to the bathroom.

But not doing anything isn’t an option either. That’s the other extreme.

What matters is listening to your own body and working out what it is you can and can’t do. Pushing yourself is a good thing but not if it is going to set you back a few days.

There is nothing wrong with going the extra mile. When your strength returns and your spirit is in an upright position, then go for it.

Doing extra can enhance energy and enrich your personal resources and you will experience a greater sense of well-being. Going for a walk and building up to longer walks will do you the world of good and aid your recovery.

Going the extra mile is important for our identity and helps us let the world know we are still in the game and up to the job. We need to prove this to ourselves and set challenges.

But we also need to apply the brakes at particular moments. If we carry on going the extra mile then we will run out of extra miles and crash.

Going the extra mile can leave you in the slow lane or needing breakdown assistance. It can get you nowhere fast. Sometimes it will leave you a mile behind.

In some cases, going the extra mile can be more toxic than treatment because you are putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.

There’s no traffic jam on the extra mile but it is littered with stranded motorists and their broken down vehicles.

I’ve had to set healthy boundaries to maintain balance and motivation so that I don’t end up doing too much.

Some days I’ve wanted to go the extra mile but have had to pull into the into the lay-by instead. That’s hugely frustrating but it’s also been necessary. There’s no certificate, badge or medal for making yourself ill.

Cancer doesn’t come with a job description but it is a full-time position and the mileage need some careful management.

We have to keep an eye on the bigger picture and be kind to ourselves and not do too much. The personal price to pay is far too high. We are all ‘mere mortals’.