Mom said the unforgettable words, “I have cancer,” and gave me a tight hug. I could feel her chest shaking as she tried not to cry but failed.

If adulthood is started in a moment, that was it. For all of my twenty-four years, my Mom had been strong and supportive. For a moment, I was the adult, and she was the child. And I promised her with a smile that I’d help her through anything.

Shortly, Mom was given surgery and received chemo. We knew chemo would take her hair, so before it fell out, Mom and I went wig shopping together. We tried on everything. Mom had been wearing the same short hair for over two decades. When she put on a shoulder-length wig, I held my breath and stared. Honestly, I didn’t recognize my own mother. But then she smiled.

I went with Mom to every chemo treatment. During the two-hour IV drips, she joked about life, medical issues and even the pain. We spoke on the phone almost daily. She rarely complained. “Cancer can take my hair, my health and my life. But it can’t take my smile.” she said.

Mom was the most sociable patient the cancer center ever had. She made homemade noodles for the medical staff. She was grateful to the hands that tried to help her.

One day when I went to visit her, I found Mom sitting at the table doing her crossword puzzle without her wig. She looked up and smiled. I’d never seen a stronger or more beautiful woman. Months later, after the final chemo treatment, we held a graduation ceremony for Mom. Mom did beat her cancer!

Most of all, I saw a change in Mom. Nothing afterward seemed to worry her quite as much. From her, I learned I may not get to choose what I face, but I do get to choose how I face it.

How can I make my family happy? This important question holds the key to more meaningful relationships with the other members of your household. To help you get started, here are some suggestions to brighten your family members’ days.

Have meals together as often as possible. Parents work and kids have after-school activities, so it’s tough to have breakfast and dinner together every day.【小题1】 Family meals are a key routine and can help you stay involved in each other’s lives.

【小题2】It is very important that you let them know about your life. That way, they can understand you, congratulate or empathize with you and generally know what’s going on in your life. In turn, it is equally important that you know about their lives too, so that they feel understood, supported and can be reassured that they are not alone.

Set aside time for regular family activities. Regular activities could include bike rides, walks, or playing cards or board games. 【小题3】Keep it low-key, and focus on having fun together and enjoying each other’s company.

Learn what they love doing and ask questions about it. Ask them how their hobby, their interest or their work is going.【小题4】 Get informed on the things they are interested in, so you can have meaningful conversations or go to meaningful events together.

Even the smallest things count. With a simple text or a brief phone call, you can make someone’s day.【小题5】 When you know that someone is going through a hard time, call, text, or be with them at their time of need like you would like them to do for you.

It was several days after my mom had passed away and I was at a loss how to carry on with my life. Therefore, when I received an email from a friend about a race benefiting cancer research, I ignored (忽略) it. It seemed to be heart-breaking, as cancer was the disease that had taken my mother away from me.

But a general responsibility for game organizing made me obliged to agree. In the weeks to come, I managed to re-enter t ho world of the living. I choked our team’s website daily. Feeling proud each time a donation added to our total. I knew my mom would have wanted it that way. She was the type who never got defeated. It was this very spirit that helped me get by.

When the race ended, I noticed the runners all had one thing in common: There were big smiles on their faces. They made it look so rewarding and effortless. I wanted in,

Therefore, I enrolled in another race two months later. Considering I could barely run a mile, it was ambitious. But my friend and I made a training plan so I wouldn’t come in last. I followed it religiously and didn’t let anything got in my way.

Running up and down the city’s hills, I was flooded with memories. I had lived there after college and my mother had visited often. I passed Bloomingdale’s, recalling the time she and I had gotten into a screaming argument there.

I was about to beat myself up when I remembered what Mom had said after her diagnosis (诊断) of cancer. “I don’t want you to feel guilty about anything.” Her paper-thin hands had held me tightly. A wright lifted from my shoulders.

When the race day arrived, I gave it my all for my mom and for all she had taught me and continued to teach me. As I ran, whenever I felt like slowing down, I pictured her cheering me on.

Crossing the finish line, I was filled with her love and a sense of peace.