pleas advice wrote: » a good solid thump on the chest will sort ya out
RobertKK wrote: » She is great and if one gets a bad deal you can’t give up. When I watched her on the late late show, Nuala O’Faolain came into my mind and the constrast in how she was when she talked about her cancer on the Marian Finucane show. Laura being very positive and getting on with life and Nuala being so angry with life and full of self pity which I don’t believe helped her. None of us know when our time could be up, everyday could be our last day so Laura Brennan is the type of person most of us want in our lives. We can all look on the bad side of things but all we can do with life is make the best of it with what we are dealt.
currants wrote: » I thought Nuala O'Faolain was very brave in being so honest about how she felt, the despair is natural surely. I remember being struck by her saying all the goodness went out of life when she got her diagnosis, it was very raw but struck me as her dissecting her illness as she had many other parts of her life as a writer. I take your point about her frame of mind not helping her illness but she knew she wasn't going to recover and couldn't get past being on that final countdown. God knows I don't think I could either. Laura Brennan is a superhuman, there aren't that many people who could cope with her diagnosis the way she does but I'm sure she's has her dark moments too. Let people with terminal cancer respond how they want to, with positivity or despair, I'd hate to think anyone would feel pressured to behave in a certain way-I know you weren't saying that RobertKK and your point was more about NOF not allowing herself any joy in her final months because of her despair We cant all be like Laura.
Deleted User wrote: » Laura is amazing in her positivity. Death will come to us and yes it would be wonderful if we were all accepting and in our acceptance grabbed life and loved every second of it. But it's not as straightforward as that. I will never forget that interview with Nuala O'faoilan. She spoke honestly about how she felt and it was painful to listen to. I understand though. It must be terrifying to be told that you only have so much time left, that your illness is incurable. The lucky ones will do their utmost to make the best of the hands they've been dealt, to find a way to cope. At night when they are alone maybe the fear creeps in. Most of us though, I don't know. Whatever my take on it, it really doesn't matter. People must be allowed grieve or celebrate their lives in their own way be that clinging on and fighting and hoping or finding a way to be optimistic regardless of the circumstances.
RobertKK wrote: » I don’t think self pity in any circumstance makes the situation better for the person. It’s sad but if one has a known limited time, that is such a waste of time if one doesn’t do stuff they always wanted while they still can. I’m dying the joy in life has gone...it isn’t going to be a making the best of whatbone is dealt. Self pity is like applying brakes to one’s life, giving up the fight and surrendering to the negative. Marian Finicane at the end of the interview had to reassure other people with cancer that most people get cured given the despair that Nuala espoused.
Deleted User wrote: » Self-pity? If there is any circumstance where a person can feel sorry for themselves it is when they are dying. Like I mentioned in my post there is nothing straightforward about any of this. What about the people who lose someone they love? Aren't they entitled to some self-pity?