reality check du jour

we mbas are sometimes accused of being pretty self-centered. so are pro athletes. i guess i see the reasoning. but let's shelve that conversation for another day.
this publc perception doesn't stop me from occasionally lapsing into "me me me" behavior at the expense of those i love. i've had a few instances of it this week and though i know i intended no harm, perception is reality and i needed to think things through before i decided that i was the most important person in the world.
"i'm trying to get a meaningful and challenging internship"
"i need sleep"
"i have zero time flexibility"
"i need to go running"
"i need to read 3 cases tonight"
...the excuses abound.
but the fact remains that i forgot what my actions looked like to those i loved, so i'm trying to make good on my value proposition of being a worthwhile person. a component of that is by not arguing with what someone thinks they see in your behavior. does protesting too much help my cause? not really.
okay, enough ambiguity.
here is where i was actually going with this post: a reminder came to me today that told me (rightfully so) that nailing my STAR format in an interview is 100% trivial compared to what this angel is going through. here is an update from a friend who is my age and underwent therapy (i'd attempt to describe what it was but i'd get it wrong. chemo is a start) for breast cancer. she is now considering her options between a surgery and some less-conventional methods:
"Because, here is where I stand now: according to my last two MRI's, for all intents and purposes I am currently cancer free. But like all cancers, and especially breast cancer there is no guarantee that it won't come back. Even if I did everything under the sun that everyone ever told me to do, it could still return. You are never given a stamped and sealed guarantee that you are free and clear forever. Ken put it well. He said that one 'side effect' of radical surgery is a feeling of being safe, which leads people to stop towing the line. There are things about my life that I absolutely cannot ever go back to. The big three are diet, exercise, and sugar. I will always be watching what I eat very very carefully, I will now be a dedicated exercise nut, and I have to serve divorce papers to my one true love, sugar. Sugar is the food that cancer likes best. {edited for brevity} I don't think that this is a 'magic bullet'. I have asked H. to help me closely watch for any signs that this approach is not working. If there is evidence that I am in danger of a reoccurence I will return to the original plan. It is important to me to try this way first. This falls into line with what I value fundamentally. Absolutely everything about conventional cancer treatment feels 'wrong' to me, personally. It does not feel like medicine and healing to have your body poisoned and burned and cut. This is in no way a judgment on the many people who choose this route and get results and live long lives. This is also not denial on my part ~ cancer is big, scary and serious. I am taking what I am doing with the utmost seriousness. I believe that our bodies are capable of incredible healing, and outrageous wellness. This approach feels right to me, and I am going to trust my instincts on that. I imagine to you my loved ones, that this will sound scary. I ask you to trust me ~ I have pulled a team of brilliant people around me. I continue to welcome input, advice, and thoughts from anyone. If anyone has questions please feel free to ask."

dear readers: i challenge you to ponder her words and think about the perspective it gives you in your life. how do your worries net out compared to what stares her in the face?
i know one thing: she is stronger than i will ever be.
i salute her.