b'| ELITEHEALTH GUIDEThe UniqueQualities of SurvivorsOn attitude, gratitude and other common attributesBy Dr. Steve SobelT his is a very special article for readers that I am very pleasedembraced by other survivors and family members can offset the terri-to submit. I had the pleasure of being the keynote speakerble feeling of being alone. The survivorship community is just thata for Celebration of LifeCancer Survivors Day at Hartfordgroup of people that know that we must belong to something bigger Hospital on September 7th. than ourselves for emotional peace and being able to keep on keeping While I speak nationally to many hospitals, groups, and celebrationson. I also learned that physicians who treat the survivors can be tre-on survivorship/Cancer Survivors day, this was especially wonderfulmendous beacons of light. Many showed up to support the survivors, since I last spoke there 15 years ago! letting them know that doing surgery is one thing, but healing by letting There were folks in the audience who I actually met 15 years agothe survivors know that they care deeply about patient healthphysical and they are still survivors! It was wonderful to see them. One of themand emotionaldoes indeed go a long way in the healing and surviving immediately asked Dr. Steve, did you get your 12 hugs a day? WOW.process.They remembered that I always recommend 12 hugs a day for thriving,The Blind Side Lesson/Perspectivelearning that life can throw ten for feeling good and 7 for feeling OK.you curveballs of unimaginable means is a reality. There is always the Well, up to that time in the morning I had received five hugs so I wasoption of giving up, but to survivors that is not acceptable. Survivors HD (Hug Deficient). Needless to say, I reached more than my quota thatcan teach all of us that life can knock you down as I say, but it does not morning after the presentation and felt terrific. They also rememberedhave to knock you out! Having people help you find the right doctors, that I say to give a robust, heartfelt hug and it lasts. We also know thatresources and support systems is available to all of us no matter what hugs have lasting physiological and emotional benefits so I learned thatcurveballs life throws.it is necessary to get your hug quota each dayit is emotional nutritionIs this an easy road/strategy? By no means, but mountains are meant that can give people hope, love and a sense that you are not alone!to be climbed and obstacles are meant to test us. Survivors have been I always say think of what it does for a baby when they are hugged. Ittested and give us all, including me, the perspective that maybe our is a healthy need to want one (or more!) No one is born unable to hugnext step in anything that we fight through may be the most import- you have to practice it daily and you will see how you change and theant step.ones you hug and embrace. Survivors have strong mental capacity in that many of them do not ISTOCKAnother lesson learned is that survivors know that the power of beingdwell on how did this happen to me? Rather, they get to a place in their www.elitecme.com |2019| ELITEHEALTH GUIDE 11'