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What would you like to be doing in five years?

This question came up the other day with a group of my friends and I . I had to stop and really had to think of an answer. I am hopeful that by that time I will be divesting myself from my business and my son will be able to take over the operations. I will be more of a consultant to him and probably do more estimating than physically working. That's my plan anyway but ask me in a month and it might change.
As with my cancer journey I have learned to take everything with a future some what suspect. Your life can change in a heartbeat but I have to look ahead or I get mired down in the day to day stuff. I feel that to look into the future and picture myself there I can see and feel hope. We all need hope to carry us through trying times. It just got me so down during the course of treatments and the after math of it . I learned to escape from that by seeing myself relaxing on a summer day on a warm beach. It helped and still does today.
Anyone else doing any long term planning? Or wishing?
God bless, John

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Permalink Reply by Tammy Simon on August 9, 2011 at 9:19am

Hey Mellissa,
Sorry to hear about your husband. This must be a difficult time for you especially with your new diagnose. They are talking about doing this procedure on my left lung..it is not functional..two thirds is no good so they considered that non functional...I'm really fighting with myself on this one...they go in and do a volume reduction so the good part of the lung will grow into where the no good part is...kinda of scary thought. The biggest fear is just what happen to you...in was diagnose with lung cancer almost four years ago...no surgeries, no radiation, just a,b,c,d chemotherapy but using the med Avastin (maint every three weeks)... We are not sure if this med is working or by the grace of god while Im doing sp well. I watched four people from church lose the battle..and somedays I feel guilty reading about everyone's cancer spreading etc., then days I feel very bless because I can enjoy my only grandchild for the last three a half years. And I've got a husband that stands by me through all of this and keeps me positive. I try to keep active and positive thinking..oh yea it's hard, especially when I've so much trouble breathing, bones hurt and all that stuff I just keep thanking God for every day he has given me on this earth. So stay positive and use your faith..God Bless you.

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Permalink Reply by HollyJo/MOD on August 8, 2011 at 6:42pm

Hi Ya John!

Good question...I don't have the same plans I did 3 years ago. I think I tend to think more about next month, instead of when we retire.

I just don't feel like we can make long term plans, maybe after the five year mark, I dono. But I do know this, we tend to just appreciate the day we are in. I think if your on this board, you know the feeling of your world coming to a halt.

We had bigger dreams, traveling and such. Hmm...nope, we really don't dare to go there...

Hugs~

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Permalink Reply by John H MOD on August 8, 2011 at 7:11pm

HollyJo go with your dreams! You get there and with Mark unless you want to go alone??? Haha only kidding

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Permalink Reply by HollyJo/MOD on August 8, 2011 at 10:13pm

LOL! John...Seriously, it's as if dreams or plans don't matter. Maybe I thought life was going to be grand or something and got an early wake up call! :P

Or, maybe the small things that we took for granted, are enough most days.....especially when I see someone else fighting everyday, and Mark is doing so well.

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Permalink Reply by Barb267 on August 8, 2011 at 11:08pm

John

I have only made plans till 2014. That is my 5 year mark. April 29 to be exact. I count from the day I had my surgery because I believe that was my cure date.I think being NSC 3A I got lucky to have the surgery.

I love making short term plans. Plans for camping and fishing to be exact. Going to take my baby girl out turkey hunting with her bow for the first time this fall. And if I can, I am hoping to take her out for her first bow deer. She is my last one and will also graduates from high school in 2014. So that is going to be a big year for both of us.

We have been working hard to get the house paid off early and it looks like our last payment is going to be next June. Then we are going to decided where to buy some land for our forever house. That is something we have been working towards for a long, long time and I look forward to.

I don't make plans for traveling or anything like that. My life might not be as exciting as others but I love it the way it is. I love just being home with my family. I love spending time with my son and new daughter-in-law. Going to the book store with my daughter. Heck, I love watching a movie from the couch with my hubby. I go to friends and plan BBQs. Like I said, not that exciting, but it fits me just fine.

I don't have a bucket list because I find that depressing. But I believe that by making plans and working towards them it helps to keep me positive that I AM GOING TO BE HERE!!

Blessings,

Barb

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Permalink Reply by John H MOD on August 10, 2011 at 8:15pm

Hi Barb who needs a bucket list when we both know we aren't going anywhere soon or later for sure! I think 2014 is good enough for me and then we just go for 2018 for college and then 2020 for graduate school and maybe 2025 for a wedding and on and on! Believe me Barb we will be here! I'll be the one holding the printout of this conversation to prove that I told you so. Lol

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Permalink Reply by Tammy Simon on August 9, 2011 at 9:05am

Hey John,
I see all is well with you...let's see where do I see myself in five years??? Hopefully I will be cancer free...taken a cruise or vac to Hawii, a trip to San Francisco and just enjoying life...your right our lives can change in an heartbeat...but we need keep living our lives with positive thoughts. I don't try to think in the future I'm still having fears of the cancer going to come back..I know I shouldn't do it but it is want it is....but I've learned in these 4 years that If I keep my faith and God they will get me through...God Bless you.

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Permalink Reply by John H MOD on August 10, 2011 at 8:36pm

Hi Tammy, I hate to say this but even after 11years I still worry about the cancer coming back. I do keep it in check and believe me it does get easier over time but
I try not to dwell on the thought but I'm also a realist and yes there's recurrences but why keep waiting for it. I
would rather focus on life and let cancer do it's thing since I can't control that as much as I want to. So hey keep on living and dreaming.
John

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Permalink Reply by Tammy Simon on August 11, 2011 at 2:33pm

Thanks John for the advice good one...

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Permalink Reply by eric byrne on December 21, 2011 at 2:05pm

Hi John,

Thanks,great topic to respond to,for myself,my vision is from today into just next year,I really cannot sit still,always got to have a project daily but something to look forward to in the near future,this time last year I was planning a trip of a lifetime,7 weeks tour of the USA,a place I only knew from Hollywood,nature progs and TV travel progs.I got a rail ticket from AMtrak for 45 days,travel anywhere across the USA,no hotels booked in advance just go where the wind takes me.Did I have a good time?,were the Americans nice people to meet with? I have to say I had the most wonderful time,everyone was just so friendly towards me.I travelled the entire journey alone,someone near the end of my seventh week said you must have been so lonely at times on your own,what me lonely?the Americans never left me time for a minute to feel lonely.Needless to say I am thinking about another great USA adventure starting in May.John I cannot see the next 5 years,I am happy just today of wanting to see whats over the next hill.