The doctor who let Paul Hunter know he had back of throat and neck cancer did not have much of a bedside manner. According to Paul, he came in and said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this. You have cancer and your life is changed forever." Then he handed him a reference for an oncologist and sent him out the door.
Paul could have let that curt diagnosis impact his reaction. But after he and his wife drove a bit, pulled over to pray, and then went home to be with their kids, they knew they were going to get through it.
Paul moved forward with the monthslong "hell" of treatment, but he never let it get the better of him. In fact, he says a lot of joy came from it.
"Nobody wishes to go through suffering but there's good there," he said. "Throughout the process you recognize how unbelievably great people are."
Paul, who is a devout Catholic and a very good friend of mine, said the experience brought him closer than ever to God. Part of the reason for that was the intense kindness he experienced from countless people, including many he barely knew.
"Humanity doesn't look so great a lot of times, but when something bad happens, people rally and they come to you and they lift you up and that it a phenomenal thing," he said.
It's now a way of life for Paul, who is cancer-free. He is never short of giving a kindness to others suffering an affliction. He also encourages others to offer a gesture, even if feels awkward or nosy.
"People want to (help) because not only they want to do it for me, but it makes them feel good," he said. "It was a gift to them to say 'yes' so I let people help me."
Paul has always had an attitude of gratitude, but if you really want to experience gratitude in action, I urge you to listen to this week's Chiseled podcast. Paul shares his email at the end in case you need help while going through a cancer diagnosis.