Don't let leukemia stop you from enjoying life. One of the best ways to do that is by setting and accomplishing goals. The aim of this episode to to encourage you to live a full life, no matter how long you have.

Yes, you have leukemia, but if you allow yourself to take your time you can accomplish more than you think. It's okay to take longer to do a project than it did before you had CLL. On today's episode I talk about my adventure tiling our bathroom. It took me three weeks! A job that most would do in a few days. Now, some of that time was spent learning how to do a job I'd never done before. But I also had to work at a slower pace. But I did it. So don't give up on yourself. And don't let Leuk convince you that you can't accomplish things.

CLL leukemia, it ain't fun. Though my leukemia can seem like an invisible disease, sometimes leuk raises his ugly head and I just have to take a day off. That happened a couple days ago. So, of course it was a bit frustrating, but I didn't let it get to me. I didn't let leuk control my thoughts. It's okay to take some time off if you need to. Tomorrow will be better. Don't be hard on yourself if you can't accomplish ever thing you want to in one day. It's okay. You're okay. And, you are not alone. The rest of us deal with it too. I hope this episode will encourage you to keep on being who you are and not let leuk weigh heavy on your mind.Visit my blog at: meandleuk.com

There are ways to beat the fear and worry of having leukemia. Today we talk about setting short-term and long-term goals and how that can have a positive influence on your life. Don't let Leuk beat you down. Engage in Life again.

Those of us with CLL leukemia can tend to narrow our lives down, letting leuk change us. But there is a whole life out there that we shouldn't let go of. Recently I spent a day playing disk golf with a friend. I was reminded that there is more to me than the leukemia. I can't let my disease stop me from being who I am. Leuk may be changing me physically, but I don't have to let him change me spiritually. I am still me.

It's easy for those of us with leukemia to become kind of selfish at times and get too wrapped up in our own lives. We need to remember that those who love us - our caregivers, family, and friends need encouraging words, just like we do. A simple text from a friend reminded me of the power of uplifting words.

Welcome to my life with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia a.k.a CLL. Today I've got the tireds, but I'm pushing through it.

Feeling a bit down today. It's not the CLL leukemia so much, I guess it's the Fall season and the weather... who knows. If you're down too maybe today's episode will help. I know it's helping me just producing it. Also in this episode I mention a special listener to my podcast. So this is for her and all the others listening today.

This whole leukemia thing can get in the way sometimes. This last week Leuk did his thing and I had to lay down. I'd had a great day with my grandson, but the next day I felt tired. Not just tired, but a kind of weak tired. So, although our grandson was staying for two days, I wasn't available for him as much as I wanted on the second day.I've had to learn to accept my CLL and not let the down days get to me. I hope this episode will remind you that when you need rest, do it. Don't feel guilty or that you're letting someone down. Your loved ones understand.

Those of us in the leukemia club sometimes face a temptation that’s seldom talked about. It doesn’t affect all of us but possibly more than care to admit it.Even though blood cancers are more survivable than ever before, we are acutely aware of Leuk’s death threats. This possibility of a shortened life can get our minds cranking in a direction we’d not considered before, or if we had, it was something we rejected as fool hardy, morally wrong, or even dangerous.Ideas that once played out in fantasies start becoming possibilities. Let’s call it the “I’d-like-to-try-that-before-I-die” syndrome. I’m not talking about your usual bucket list stuff like hang gliding or deep sea fishing. I don’t have any statistics but I’m guessing the problem is more common among men.Okay, so I seem to be dancing around it. If you have this issue than you know what I’m talking about: the desire for a brief dalliance or even a full-blown affair outside of your marriage.Now, I have friends and relatives who read this blog so I want to be clear here. I am talking about temptations and close calls – not actual actions. But when I started this blog I promised to be as honest as I could with my readers. If my goal is to help and encourage those struggling with leukemia I can’t BS them. I have to be real.In the early stages of leukemia, especially with CLL, Leuk is invisible. You still feel pretty good and to the outside world you look quite normal. But you don’t know how long you will still have the energy needed to remain active. You don’t know, especially in the beginning, what will come of you – what sort of life you will be living, or even how long you will be living.During this time of inward (and frankly selfish) brooding, that little dark spot in your soul, the secret place that everyone on the planet has and tries to keep under control, starts weaving through your mind like the threading tendrils of a parasitic plant. What was once a faint, empty whisper barely heard, becomes a slowly growing chant pushing you towards compulsion. If not checked, you will act.This is not a battle with Leuk. It is a battle within yourself. So how do you beat this thing? What tools are there to resist these dark thoughts?Here’s seven to consider. Keep them in your tool bag at all times:(1) God. If you have a faith in God than use it. Put Him to work. You’ve already been praying about your fight with Leuk and maybe, just maybe, the fight we’re talking about here is even more important.(2) A Friend. Not just a beer drinking, Monday night football friend. I mean a real Friend – the one you trust, the one you can open your soul to and know he won’t judge you but will hold you accountable. If you are lucky enough to have such a friendship, reach out for help. You may have noticed I capitalized ‘Friend’ just like I capitalized ‘God’. Why? Well, I have such a friend and he deserves the same kind of respect. I don’t see him often but I know I can rely on him. My faith in God often falters but my trust in my friend never does.(3) Your legacy. Think about what you will leave to your family. I don’t mean any inheritance of wealth. I mean the legacy of who you were and what you meant to them. The desire to build a legacy, a reputation if you will, before you die can overpower any compulsions that might destroy it.(4) Your mind. Keep guard on what you put into your head. (5) Read. Read. Read. Soak your soul with the bracing magic of good writers.(6) Don’t spend too much time alone. Stay involved with your family. Just being with your spouse, your kids, and especially your grand-kids puts your mind right as to what is really important.(7) Your roots. There is a beach grass that grows on the beaches here. Though it grows in the gravel and sand it is almost impossible to pull out. Each plant joins its roots with every other plant forming a strong underground web structure...