My Mom is fighting cancer; a really nasty, uncurable kind.

It's hard to watch her suffer. Some days her attitude and mood is very low, partially because she is facing death and partially from the chemicals running through her body.

When I speak with her, I find myself trying to shift her mood to a more positive one. I've read the books on the impact of positive attitude on healing and I want her to heal. The coach in me wants to help her through this process with ease and grace.

Last night we were on the verge of an arguement. I was urging her to rest more and follow her doctor's recommendations. She wanted to attend a defensive driving course directly after her radiation treatment so she could save money on her car insurance.

That desire made no sense to me. Saving on car insurance is not one of my priorities for her right now. I want her to live and could care less about the status of her car insurance bill. I even offered to pay the difference in price.

Whoa...

As soon as the words left my mouth I knew I'm blew it. This is her life, her cancer, and her choices trump mine.

Just because I don't agree with her choices doesn't mean that she doesn't have the right to make them in her own way.

Thankfully, I was able to mend my mistake. There is no time to waste with Mom, or with anyone.

Personal integrity is a challenge when it involves letting other people own their own process, especially when I don't agree with their choices. However, when I can master that allowing, I honor the will and the choice of the other person.

When I do that, I am serving people at the very highest level.