Don’t talk much about illnesses too much
My friend has cancer and is in stage 4. I called his wife to find out how her husband's hospital visit was the previous day. The conversation went like this:
Me: Hi, how are you?
She: I am fine, thank you and you?
Me: I am fine and how is your husband doing now?
Hmm..she paused a second, collected herself and said, "He is fine." Doing good.
Me: How did the hospital visit go?
She: Doctor said that he is responding well to the new medicines.
I knew from their nephew that his uncle wasn't doing well but my friend's wife said, "he's fine!" By God's grace I hope things will get better.
She: How is your wife, your children?
Me: Yes, by God's grace they are all doing well. Thanks for asking.
She: Thanks for calling. I will tell my husband that you called.
I have seen several people talking so negatively about their own health or one in their family's health, exaggerating and talking about the negativity for a long time. Little do they realize that the universe is conspiring with their thoughts and creating more such experiences.
I have found that it's alright to fake it and say, "I am fine, she's fine, getting better or saying something positive and changing the topic to something more cheerful.
It's tough but it's better than talking more about the illnesses. It attracts more similar such situations.