Dr. Al Danenberg ● Nutritional Periodontist
December 31, 2018
x
Are you grateful? Are you grateful for life? Are you grateful as you start the New Year?
x
What does 2019 mean to you? Are you one of those who makes at least one New Year’s Resolution? And then, within a month or two you give up on what you wholeheartedly promised? So many people make a game of it. They start the New Year with good-intentioned determination but with little results moving forward. I guess it’s just a scenario that gets played out over and over again.
x
Is it possible that we take life for granted? Or, do we think we are invincible? Can’t we make positive promises to ourselves and follow through with them?
x
I took life for granted for 71 years – until now! I can tell you that a powerful life lesson can make an impactful change. My New Year’s Resolution for 2019 is so much more meaningful than all those New Year’s Resolutions I’ve made over my past 71 years. My life lesson was a sudden life-death reality that triggered a renewed perspective for me.
x
In September 2018, I had my wake-up call. It came about without any warning. My oncologist diagnosed an aggressive bone marrow cancer in my body and gave me only 3-6 months to live. If you were given that diagnosis and prognosis, how would you have reacted?
x
I could have succumbed to my doctor’s warning, but I chose to take my treatment protocols into my own hands. I chose not to take my life for granted. I elected to see my physical body as a precious commodity that is only provided to me for a finite period of time. Whatever time I had left, I was determined to live it with principles and dignity. I was determined to be grateful.
x
I feel blessed that I was fortunate to get a handle on just how tenuous my longevity might be. It’s as though I have been given a sneak peek and an opportunity, which most people will never be given.
x
Today, I am beating out my oncologist’s projection of only 3-6 months to live. I am moving into 2019 with my New Year’s Resolution to conquer my cancer and to live life to the fullest. This is my New Year’s Resolution, which I intend to keep. My resolve is multifold. My intent is to …
- Prove my conventional oncologist wrong
- Strengthen my own natural immune system to fight this aggressive disease
- Appreciate the remaining life I have with gratitude
- Embrace the love from my wife, children, and grandchildren
- Share my unconventional approach to treat multiple myeloma with all who will listen
x
May I offer you 6 Personal Thoughts? If you are open to them, here they are:
- Give more consideration to your New Year’s Resolution.
- Take the time to appreciate life and the years you have in front of you.
- Be realistic with your intentions but also be thankful for all you have accomplished until now.
- Pay much less attention to the material possessions and accomplishments and much more attention to the memories and the relationships you have created and will create.
- Make realistic promises, which you can achieve and that will improve the quality of your life.
- Be grateful!
x
If you don’t want to miss out on new posts, sign up for my email alert list here.
Buy My Book
3 Comments
I love it Dr D!
Congratulations on waking up like this and thank you for sharing it with your community.
The resolve to prove your conventional oncologist wrong is powerful medicine. Please have your wife take a photo of the oncologist’s confounded face when you receive your test results showing that you have beaten this disease. Susan was told at 7 years old that she would never walk again, yet became a kung fu black belt. I was told I would shrivel up due to a muscular disease, yet have put 25 pounds of lean muscle mass on my frame since that statement.
May we all be very careful what stories we choose to believe as true. Regardless of the color of the coat the professional in front of us wears, we are only human and can offer educated opinions. Let us consciously differentiate between educated opinion and truth/fact.
Knock it out of the park Al! We’re cheering for you!
Thank you for this list and for reminding me what’s important. My 50th birthday hit me hard because it was then that I realized I won’t be here forever.
With 60 approaching, time feels more precious than ever. But I still need to focus WAY more on #4, and I’m sure I’m not alone.
We are a species of hunter-gatherers, but the gathering has spiraled out of control. I suppose it’s easier to collect “stuff” than do the hard work of building and maintaining relationships.
I hope you’ll be around for a good long time, and keep those life lessons coming!
Great personal thoughts! I am catching up on your emails as I start my 7th day in the hospital with lots of tests. Still waiting for the diagnosis, but possibly multiple myeloma. The waiting is difficult. So happy to be feeling better than I did a week ago, and praying for God’s comfort and strength. Prayers for God’s blessings in your life, and thank you for sharing your journey. I may have some big decisions to make.
Comments are closed for this article!