"Red Rover, Red Rover, send Judy right over!"  Remember that game?  Two teams locked arms, and took turns calling out members from the opposing team.  You ran at the other guys with the goal of breaking through their line.  If you did, you took someone back with you.  If you failed, you stayed with your opponents. In a defensive maneuver, the really good players were called early on.  Consequently, it was very prestigious to be a member of those chosen few.

Now that we're all grown up, it's still prestigious to be a member of the chosen few: promoted to the best positions at work, invited to join the coolest organizations, recognized by your peers for an outstanding job.  We're familiar with those sought-after accolades.  But did you know we've all been chosen for other, less recognized, but no less important, appointments as well? 

(READER ALERT: Here comes a statement that may you cause you to think I've lost my mind.  I haven't.  Bear with me.)

 

Many people might say that I've fallen victim to breast cancer.  To that, I would resolutely and firmly proclaim I am NOT a victim.  I have been CHOSEN to have breast cancer, along with 288,000 other women this year.  We're chosen because our experiences can help myriad others in the future, both through our own works as well as the work of our doctors.  What a humbling opportunity for us to help other sisters in need!

 

And it's not just those of us with breast cancer who are chosen to help fellow humans.  The group includes those suffering from other diseases, those who've lost their jobs, those who suddenly find themselves single through death or divorce, those with difficult children.  The list includes any issue that stops you in your tracks.  In other words, EVERYBODY is chosen some time.

I'll grant you it takes courage to look at your misfortune and call yourself chosen.  But here are five intriguing reasons to do so:

1.  "No woman is an island."  Okay, John Donne really said no man, but gender doesn't matter.  What does matter is that we're all interconnected and helping one another is what makes us a community of happy humans.
2.  Be a research rat.  Even if you don't lift a finger, your experience can aid doctors, scientists, researchers, social psychologists, etc., so that others can avoid what's troubling you now.
3.   Give 'em a break.  Our friends and loved ones feel nearly as badly as we do about our misfortune.  But if we look at it as an opportunity to aid society, it will take the burden off our support group as well.
4.  Champion role model.  Finding good role models for our kids among headline makers is tough.  But who needs them when we've been chosen!  When your kids see you overcoming adversity, it will make it easier from them to do the same thing.
5.  Like lima beans, it's good for YOU! This attitude gets your mind off you, and overcoming one thing, you'll take on new challenges with even more robust courage. 

Bottom line, it doesn't matter whether your circumstance helps one person or one million.  What counts is that you held out your hand and shared your experiences.  After all, you were chosen to do so!