I don’t see anyone my age in the cancer unit.

This was my view from the cancer unit waiting room last week. I’ll be honest, I was actually quite jealous of that guy with the big Ritz cracker box. Those are delicious. But aside from that, I can’t help but notice that I am the youngest one there. I haven’t seen anyone close to my age yet, and sometimes I wonder if they think I’m in the wrong place. Maybe it’s because sometimes I wonder if I’m in the wrong place. Like I somehow skipped a line somewhere. Fast-tracked forward.

But it’s a strange feeling. While there are a million other places I’d rather be, I also feel a sense of gratefulness at the fact that I DO get to be here. On the 12th floor in the cancer unit before most people my age. Because I know that on the other side, I’ll get to say to those that have to eventually walk the same path as me, “You can do it. I’ve been there before and you’ve got this.”

To me, that’s a blessing. There isn’t much that’s more fulfilling to me than helping ease the burdens of someone else and cheering them on. So if that means being the first one of my friends to walk into a cancer unit, so be it. Bring it on.

You can do hard things. Maybe you skipped the line somewhere too and you were thrust into a circumstance before you were ready. But the next people in line will look to your courage. So grab ahold of that Ritz cracker box and buckle up. You can lead scared. I’m proud of you for going first, even when you don’t want to.