Mom is doing well

I just wanted to post a note to everyone thanking you for your love, prayers and support. Mom is doing pretty well considering. She's in good spirits and so far the side effects are manageable. Please continue the prayers. They mean more than you know.

Tale of two survivors

It's interesting to see how my life and mom's have lined up. About 2 months before I was diagnosed, mom was told to come back in six months. As I was finishing up chemo, she went in for that follow up, which was part of a long drawn out evenutal diagnosis process for her. In the middle of radiation, she got her formal diagnosis, and joined me in the land of breast cancer. We had a two week break between the end of my treatment and her surgery which was the start of hers.


Today was the first day I traveled for business since before I got sick, and today was the day she started her chemo. Perhaps some of why the timing has lined up as it has was to show her that life will go on. It just does. Sometimes it seems like things will never feel normal again, but today for me they did, with the exception of the fact that my mother was in getting her infusion.

I guess that's the way cancer works. There are 2.5 million women who have faced this disease and are living in some stage beyond their diagnosis. Some are 30 years past it and probably never give it a second thought. Some are newbies walking around obsessing on it. I look forward to the day when both mom and I are "past" it and can just enjoy life again without looking through cancer colored glasses.

It's not a journey I ever would have picked to share with anyone, selfishly because I never wanted to go through it, and unselfishly because I never wanted to see someone I love suffer. But we don't always pick our paths. Sometimes the road winds off in ways we didn't expect, but follow it we must, keeping faith that it's where we are meant to be. Mom and I have shared some fun moments in cancer solidarity. What can we do but make the best of it.

Gratitude practice

Now that I have posting ability from my phone, perhaps I will pick up the pace of posting. I know there is a small handful of people who miss it. Today, practicing gratitude is on my mind. Yes even at 4 am. How many of us take the time to thing about all we are grateful for? I hadn't focused on that in a while and I recently took up the practice again. It comes down to how we want to view our lives and circumstances. It's very easy to focus on the issues and challenges that bring us down. Problems are real and can weigh on us if we choose to allow them to.

However, as heavy as problems can be is as uplifting as gratitude can be. So I challenge you to join me each day, what are you grateful for? Today, I'm grateful for technology that makes posting easier. I'm grateful to have something to celebrate in challenging times. I'm grateful for modern medicine. I'm grateful for an amazing support system. I'm grateful for jami on her 34th birthday. And that's just what I am grateful for off the toP of my head at this moment.

Even when the road gets rough there is good to be found. Taking a pollyanna approach can help change the way the rough journey feels. It's about recognizing and appreciating the gifts.

Testing

I got an iphone today and want to see if I can post from here

steps in the right direction

So far this week, I have gone to the gym 3 times for cardio. I also did a 30 minute yoga session, which by the way, you never realize how out of shape you are until you do yoga! Needless to say, I was sore the next day."but it's a good hurt"...

As part of the cancer transitions programs, we are supposed to set weekly goals. Mine are the following:

• Go to the gym 4 times this week (3 down so far)
• hit at least 4 servings of fruit/veggies daily (2 days in a row so far)
• Drink 8-8 ounces of water (I think I have done this, but I haven't been diligent about counting to be sure)
• Get back to weight watchers tracking (today is day 3 of that)

Rome wasn't built in a day right? I figure every little step in the right direction counts. It's been a long time since I have been well enough to consistently exercise and do healthful things. It's a wonderful feeling. I intend to be healthy for many years as I have much more to do and much more to contribute to this world. As a wise survivor keeps telling me, I will chose to go by "faith not fear".

The week in review

This week was my return to a healthy lifestyle. I got to the gym twice (not great, but it's better than nothing) and went walking at lunch twice. That's a good start. I was pretty good about packing my lunch and snacks for work. I also signed up to do the Spring Lake 5k in May... Thanks Chris and Ei for getting that going! I am going to shoot for walking it. I am hoping that I can work up to the running for the fall.

This upcoming week will bring more opportunities to work on my health. My goal this week is three trips to the gym. I also have the first wellness/transitions seminar on Monday. That includes several components including exercise. Which reminds me, I have to find my paperwork for that... oops.

In defense of Komen

Because I don't feel confident that people will take my post in the manner it was intended, I have removed it. If you would like to read it, send me an email and I will pass it along.

I do find it sad how emotional, hateful and angry people get over topics like this. However, I do believe everyone is entitled to feel how the must.

the road to wellness

I am finally at a point where I am ready to start really changing the way I do things. I had made a few attempts during treatments but side effects got in the way. Now that active treatment is done, it's time. I cannot fully control cancer. In fact, I can't control it pretty much at all. However,statistics do show that moderate/vigorous activity, and a lower BMI reduce your likelihood of a recurrance. While certainly there is no guarantees with this disease, it would be foolish of me not to make the effort.

My goal is to get in exercise 3-4 days a week at a minimum. I will be paying better attention to my diet. Bottom line is, will it help the cancer stay away? No one knows for sure. But statistics say yes. And if it doesn't, well, at least in the meantime, I will feel better about myself. Being healthier is never a bad thing right?

I also will be starting my cancer transitions program on monday. That should be good. I am really looking forward to that. The focus is these very types of lifestyle changes. I think that will be great.

So this is where it starts. Who knows what the future holds. I am hoping it holds opportunities for 5ks, who knows, and maybe more... But you know what they say, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". Today I take mine.