Blatantly Honest Responses to ‘Giving Up on Life’

A few months back I wrote a post titled Giving Up on Life as a response to a search string that someone had used to visit here: “when it’s time to give up on life”.

I’d like to share with you a reader’s response to that particular post.

From Tom:

Giving up seems to be by words for me and I have always rebounded, but the end is near and closing fast.

I got diagonosed with a cancerous tumor 12 years ago, did the chemo and radiation, and then the life changing therapy. So I survived my fit of depression then but still wear the bag to remind me. Then came a dying liver that I have been dealing with, done all the right things to stay on the transplant list. (Ha) sitting here with the letter of removing me from the list sitting next to the keyboard.

Why, not because I gave up, but rather now I have been diagnosed with cancer of the liver. So I spent my time again expanding my understanding of all the paticulars of the disease. What I got for all this is the biopsy which I am waiting to be scheduled for, three simple words. I give up. Tom

Wow, talk about a tough situation.

Here I am imploring people never to give up on life, and I get hit with such raw honesty from Tom.

My response to you, Tom, is that I’m sorry you’ve been dealt such hard challenges in life. It doesn’t seem fair, and to be perfectly frank, I don’t know why this has happened to you.

I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason in life, though we don’t often see why until we have the benefit of hindsight.

This doesn’t really help your own situation too much, and I can’t possibly pretend to understand what you’re going through.

I would like to encourage you to take time out to appreciate as much as you can in life, whether that’s remembering back to happier times or noticing and appreciating the simple things around us. Don’t give up on the fact that today you are alive!

Good luck to you and sincerely, God bless.

Another reader, Antony, responded to the original post as follows:

I dont know if you will believe. I searched exactly with the words giving up. Life takes its turns. I have a very stressful time.

Though I am a doctor, to be on the other side of the table is a totally different feeling. My daughter has been seriously ill, and as you said, it changes your attitudes towards life. Sometimes, all said and done, it is difficult to go forwards. I cant find reasons why such things happen in life. It is such a sad thing that your child is ill, and you sit and watch. Helpless, frustration..what not. I know sometimes things happen for a reason, but other times, I cant find any.

Now I fully understand the anxiety and stress of the family of those who come to me. I could never understand it if I hadn’t passed through my present situations. Maybe, that is the purpose. Maybe, life wants to teach me something. It probably wants me to be a better physician, who understands the feeling of others.

Thanks so much to these readers (and others) who have been so blatantly honest about their own personal situations. People often feel encouraged through reading and hearing about stories like these.

Another interesting read is a response to Why do bad things happen to good people? titled Are you sure you want an explanation?

If you’d like to share your thoughts on these responses or any other matters, please comment below. The original post can be found here: Giving Up on Life.

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