Sunshine For Your Breast Cancer Journey
Sunshine is cheerfulness and optimism, especially in a difficult situation.
Be a ray of light! Your words can mean the world to someone else, even when you are strangers. Write a post to inspire, encourage, comfort, uplift or appreciate someone today. We bet it will make you feel good too. To comment on a post, click on its title.
She Let Go
She let go of all the justifications for holding on. Completely, without hesitation, fear or worry, she just let go.
She didn't ask anyone for advice. She didn't consult an expert our read a book on how to let go…She just let go.
She let go of guilt, shame, regret…and all her memories that held her back.
She let go of all the worries, the unmet expectations, all the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.
She didn't promise to let so.
She didn't journal about it.
She didn't analyze whether she should let go.
She just let go. No one was around when it happened. There was no applause or congratulations. No one thanked her or praised her. Like a leaf falling from a tree, she had just let go. There was no effort. The was no struggle. And when she did, a small smile came over her face. In the space of letting go, she had let it all be.
And, in the doing, she became so much lighter and free.
––Reverend safire Rose
Blessed
Although going through cancer is a difficult journey, I have to say that more good came out of this than bad! I realized how blessed I am! I am beyond blessed to have people in my life the care so much for me and were there for me! I am blessed that this journey forced me to rediscover my purpose, redefine my perspectives, and rearrange my priorities. I am blessed that I realize everyday is a blessing and I am so thankful for each day!
Quote
"You don't know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
2nd time around – 10 years in recovery
I am a survivor twice – the first was in 2010 when my whole world twirled upside down. Weeks upon weeks of radiation and a lumpectomy later, I felt I was lucky and moved on. Only to have a second diagnosis 3 years later with the angst of losing my family, my life, my everything again. But I am a fighter – DAMMIT = and I took this head-on. A double mastectomy, tons of support from family and friends later, made me stronger. I survived that and felt it was my calling to help others when I heard they were going thru the same thing. I've helped so many women thru this journey to just be a support person when it was needed. That's why this community is so great and I'm proud to be a part of it.
So my two bits of gratitude –
1. Thankful for my 2nd chance at life; to give of myself to others and to have another day with my loved ones. 10 years has past this Summer of all my surgeries, implants and the like. CELEBRATIONS for sure.
2. Thankful for this community – I truly hope we all see that we're in this "club" together. We are here to support each other in an open forum. This has not been available before but I'm so glad it is here now.
Looking forward to engaging with you all!
Stay in the Present
When you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you will meet with a team of doctors, each of whom will tell you what to expect, including anything that can go wrong. They are just doing their jobs, but oh my, that is overwhelming! The vast majority of these complications and side effects will not happen to you. Do listen, because you will want to catch any problems early, but then stay in the present. Try not to spend March worrying about what could go wrong in August. I told myself "That is a problem for another day" when I would catch myself starting to worry. The thing I worried most about was the drug I will be taking for 5-10 years, and I'm doing just fine on that.
A quote that helped keep my head on straight
A favorite quote during my cancer treatment was "It's not what you look at, it's what you see." It helped me remember to focus on the positives, and there was always something positive in my day: somebody would reach out in a thoughtful way, or I would have a good laugh, or I would show progress in some way. I really feel like if you make it a priority to find the positives and honor them with your attention and gratitude, they will multiply.
Ask!
You surely have family and friends who would want to do anything they can for you. Don’t let them wonder how they can help…go ahead and ask. Give them the satisfaction that comes with service, and make your own burden a little lighter. Just ask!
Keep Going!!!
Keep the faith! You are not alone.
My motto during breast cancer was
FAITH OVER FEAR.
You got this!!!
Congratulations on 10 years! You are an inspiration!! You have a wonderful attitude!!!