Today I am grateful for my gratitude journal and this blog. They help me keep my focus and a positive perspective. I'm also grateful for the lamps in our house. I appreciate the soothing light they give off.
And I am grateful for ears and shoulders, mine and others. Yesterday in a stretch of a few hours, I had several people do some venting to me. I was their sounding board, their safe place. Venting, sharing, unloading, unburdening, releasing frustration, commiserating--all have value because it's better to get rid of that which weighs on us, or at least keep it at a manageable size. Otherwise, tough emotions can become toxic, taint our view of self and world.
Ears and shoulders. I listen with my ears and heart, and I hope I do a decent job of it. I try. I'm not so much the one with shoulders people cry on, nor am I much of a crier myself, but my figurative shoulders can help absorb the burdens others carry. It's a gift to be trusted.
When I use my ears and shoulders to hear and support others, I am better able to keep my own life in perspective. I am better able to remain grateful because I am reminded that others are facing challenges and struggles too, and I'm not alone.
Ears and shoulders. I will try to make mine available today.
Thank you to those who are my safe place, my sounding boards. You help me so much.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
PLEASE JOIN: Every Woman Counts
Today I am grateful for Sam's enjoyment of his baseball season, his teammates, his coaches, his improving skills and confidence. I am also grateful for all of the compassion in the world and I hope to contribute to that amount today.
With talk of cancer lately, it's time for me to make another pitch for women to join Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women and also the Health of Women Study. Action helps me feel like I am making a difference, like I am throwing my positive energy out into the universe. There are actions we can all take when it comes to getting to the causes and finding cures for breast cancer. Any answers we can find about breast or other cancers may help us address all cancers.
I wrote a post last October about these two intiatives, sponsored by the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF). You can read the entire post here.
Below is a portion of that post that provides links and tells you how to take action to help in the search for causes and cures for breast cancer.
"Here are a couple ways to take action. Join the new DSLRF initiative called the Health of Women Study at www.healthofwomenstudy.org. It is open to women worldwide over the age of 18, both those who have had breast cancer and those who have not. The goal is to build a huge database of information from women about women to help find potential answers to the causes of and risk factors for breast cancer.
You can also join the on-going DSLRF initiative known as the Army of Women at www.armyofwomen.org. This is also open to all women regardless of breast cancer history. This database helps researchers locate research participants in months instead of years, allowing the pace of research to pick up.
It just takes a few minutes to sign up for either and then you have taken positive action for a good reason. You can then decide what you want to participate in. It is all totally voluntary and your information is protected.Please consider joining one or both of these initiatives."
At the time of that post last October, there were over 8,000 women who had joined the HOW study. Now there are over 41,000. That's good progress, but it could be better. The goal of the Army of Women is to be one million strong. Last October, there were 369,000 who had joined. Now the number nears 373,000. Let's help pick up the pace.
Women, consider joining. Men, encourage the women in your life to step up. Together we can make a difference. Action empowers.
With talk of cancer lately, it's time for me to make another pitch for women to join Dr. Susan Love's Army of Women and also the Health of Women Study. Action helps me feel like I am making a difference, like I am throwing my positive energy out into the universe. There are actions we can all take when it comes to getting to the causes and finding cures for breast cancer. Any answers we can find about breast or other cancers may help us address all cancers.
I wrote a post last October about these two intiatives, sponsored by the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF). You can read the entire post here.
Below is a portion of that post that provides links and tells you how to take action to help in the search for causes and cures for breast cancer.
"Here are a couple ways to take action. Join the new DSLRF initiative called the Health of Women Study at www.healthofwomenstudy.org. It is open to women worldwide over the age of 18, both those who have had breast cancer and those who have not. The goal is to build a huge database of information from women about women to help find potential answers to the causes of and risk factors for breast cancer.
You can also join the on-going DSLRF initiative known as the Army of Women at www.armyofwomen.org. This is also open to all women regardless of breast cancer history. This database helps researchers locate research participants in months instead of years, allowing the pace of research to pick up.
It just takes a few minutes to sign up for either and then you have taken positive action for a good reason. You can then decide what you want to participate in. It is all totally voluntary and your information is protected.Please consider joining one or both of these initiatives."
At the time of that post last October, there were over 8,000 women who had joined the HOW study. Now there are over 41,000. That's good progress, but it could be better. The goal of the Army of Women is to be one million strong. Last October, there were 369,000 who had joined. Now the number nears 373,000. Let's help pick up the pace.
Women, consider joining. Men, encourage the women in your life to step up. Together we can make a difference. Action empowers.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Gratituderty
Today I am grateful for the flexibility others exhibit, and I am grateful for my job.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma.
Today's post is another word to add to our family gratitude vocabulary list. This one is courtesy of my sister-in-law Elaine. The word she contributed is gratituderty. This is added to the list which contains gratituding, gratitudeness, gratitudinal adjustment, and gratitunity. You can read about the previous words here.
Elaine combined gratitude and liberty to create gratituderty, because of the liberty that comes from being grateful for what a person has and experiences. She was framing it from the perspective of a significant change in her job situation.
Gratitude is liberating isn't it? Instead of feeling trapped in "not enough," I am freed by what gratitude teaches me-that I truly have "more than enough." Gratitude allows me to keep more of an open mind, to be accepting of life on life's terms. That liberates me from some of the fear and worry and gives me positive energy to proceed.
My husband and I watched the movie "Silver Linings Playbook" this weekend. It was good and it was thought-provoking. Silver linings played out in unexpected ways. Life has a way of doing that. Even in difficult times. Especially in difficult times. Gratituderty was evident in the movie too.
Practicing habitual gratitude allows me to better notice the silver linings and to simply better notice the daily gifts I receive.
Thanks for the addition to our vocabulary list Elaine!
My thoughts and prayers go out to the tornado victims in Moore, Oklahoma.
Today's post is another word to add to our family gratitude vocabulary list. This one is courtesy of my sister-in-law Elaine. The word she contributed is gratituderty. This is added to the list which contains gratituding, gratitudeness, gratitudinal adjustment, and gratitunity. You can read about the previous words here.
Elaine combined gratitude and liberty to create gratituderty, because of the liberty that comes from being grateful for what a person has and experiences. She was framing it from the perspective of a significant change in her job situation.
Gratitude is liberating isn't it? Instead of feeling trapped in "not enough," I am freed by what gratitude teaches me-that I truly have "more than enough." Gratitude allows me to keep more of an open mind, to be accepting of life on life's terms. That liberates me from some of the fear and worry and gives me positive energy to proceed.
My husband and I watched the movie "Silver Linings Playbook" this weekend. It was good and it was thought-provoking. Silver linings played out in unexpected ways. Life has a way of doing that. Even in difficult times. Especially in difficult times. Gratituderty was evident in the movie too.
Practicing habitual gratitude allows me to better notice the silver linings and to simply better notice the daily gifts I receive.
Thanks for the addition to our vocabulary list Elaine!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Hills Anyone?
Today I am grateful for a good half-marathon run yesterday, for my family, for the lush green that has emerged in the last couple of weeks.
That half-marathon kicked my butt. Or more accurately the hills kicked my butt. I knew it was a hilly course-I've run it before. But I guess I forgot how hilly-one after the other. I didn't count, I just tried to conquer the hills one at a time. I was hoping to come in under two hours, but when it looked like that wasn't going to happen, I accepted it. I cut myself more slack than I used to. My 2:08 time wasn't shabby and I reminded myself that it was really just about being out there, able to run, able to participate in life, hills and all.
I typically don't walk up hills when I am running. It's a psychological thing for me. It may zap my physical strength a bit with each hill, but it gives me mental strength, and that's just as important to a runner as physical strength. I am stubborn too. I don't want a hill to get the better of me.
I did do some reflecting, but the running and the hills required plenty of my focus. I did think of my own cancer journey, but I also thought of those who have died of cancer, of those currently undergoing surgeries and treatment to address cancer. I thought about family members and friends who are facing their own challenges on many fronts.
I returned to gratitude, appreciating being able-bodied, appreciating the experience, painful hills and all. I finished. For myself, but also for those who can't run at this time.
Like the literal hills I ran, the figurative ones in life can be overcome. One step at a time. One day at a time. With gratitude to help paint a healthier perspective.
That half-marathon kicked my butt. Or more accurately the hills kicked my butt. I knew it was a hilly course-I've run it before. But I guess I forgot how hilly-one after the other. I didn't count, I just tried to conquer the hills one at a time. I was hoping to come in under two hours, but when it looked like that wasn't going to happen, I accepted it. I cut myself more slack than I used to. My 2:08 time wasn't shabby and I reminded myself that it was really just about being out there, able to run, able to participate in life, hills and all.
I typically don't walk up hills when I am running. It's a psychological thing for me. It may zap my physical strength a bit with each hill, but it gives me mental strength, and that's just as important to a runner as physical strength. I am stubborn too. I don't want a hill to get the better of me.
I did do some reflecting, but the running and the hills required plenty of my focus. I did think of my own cancer journey, but I also thought of those who have died of cancer, of those currently undergoing surgeries and treatment to address cancer. I thought about family members and friends who are facing their own challenges on many fronts.
I returned to gratitude, appreciating being able-bodied, appreciating the experience, painful hills and all. I finished. For myself, but also for those who can't run at this time.
Like the literal hills I ran, the figurative ones in life can be overcome. One step at a time. One day at a time. With gratitude to help paint a healthier perspective.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Running to Reflect
Today I am grateful for my morning walks with Oliver and for the role that running has had and continues to have in my life.
I am heading out to run a half-marathon this morning-the Apple Blossom Races. Darcy and I have both run this race a few times, but not since 2009. I will be going solo today, and in ways that is fitting. I am running to reflect and I am running in celebration. Celebration for life. The life I continue to be blessed with five years after a breast cancer diagnosis.
My diagnosis was early stage. I had three surgeries and went through four rounds of chemotherapy. But I came far closer to dying from my other disease-alcoholism-than I have from cancer. I hope it stays that way. But I know that there are no guarantees. Cancer is mysterious and cunning. It could rear it's ugly head in my life again. I don't live in fear of that, but I do live with a sense of mortality I didn't have prior to May of 2008.
I take actions to live a decent life--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Could I do more? Sure. We all could. I do the best I can day to day, and gratitude is always part of that "best."
And I realized that it was thirty years ago today that I graduated from high school. My stepdaughter is just days away from her own high school graduation too. More to reflect on as I run this morning.
I'll take it stride by stride, step by step. You do the same and have a good day!
I am heading out to run a half-marathon this morning-the Apple Blossom Races. Darcy and I have both run this race a few times, but not since 2009. I will be going solo today, and in ways that is fitting. I am running to reflect and I am running in celebration. Celebration for life. The life I continue to be blessed with five years after a breast cancer diagnosis.
My diagnosis was early stage. I had three surgeries and went through four rounds of chemotherapy. But I came far closer to dying from my other disease-alcoholism-than I have from cancer. I hope it stays that way. But I know that there are no guarantees. Cancer is mysterious and cunning. It could rear it's ugly head in my life again. I don't live in fear of that, but I do live with a sense of mortality I didn't have prior to May of 2008.
I take actions to live a decent life--physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Could I do more? Sure. We all could. I do the best I can day to day, and gratitude is always part of that "best."
And I realized that it was thirty years ago today that I graduated from high school. My stepdaughter is just days away from her own high school graduation too. More to reflect on as I run this morning.
I'll take it stride by stride, step by step. You do the same and have a good day!
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Thanks To The Beautiful People
Today I am grateful for recovery from alcoholism and the relationships I am blessed to have with other people in recovery.
I got to spend some time with a few such folks yesterday and I really appreciated it. I have been quite busy; caught up in a long to-do list and behind on rest. There are many good things happening. It's not like the things making my life hectic are negative things. That in itself makes me grateful. But it still wears me out.
So I have been out of balance, off-kilter. I have been feeling like the proverbial "hamster on a wheel" or "dog running on linoleum." A lot of energy is being dispensed, but there's always more to do. I have lost perspective, forgotten to pause, slow down, keep my priorities straight. Those priorities include daily work on the daily disease of alcoholism.
The friends I got to see yesterday reminded me of my priorities. They are truly beautiful people. The light in their eyes, the smiles on their faces, the heart and soul they pour out in their words. We laughed. We talked about balance, grace, self-discipline, change.
And as one friend so aptly put it: "Let's try not to get swallowed up by life." Pause. Just pause.
Perspective regained. Thanks to the beautiful people! You know who you are.
I got to spend some time with a few such folks yesterday and I really appreciated it. I have been quite busy; caught up in a long to-do list and behind on rest. There are many good things happening. It's not like the things making my life hectic are negative things. That in itself makes me grateful. But it still wears me out.
So I have been out of balance, off-kilter. I have been feeling like the proverbial "hamster on a wheel" or "dog running on linoleum." A lot of energy is being dispensed, but there's always more to do. I have lost perspective, forgotten to pause, slow down, keep my priorities straight. Those priorities include daily work on the daily disease of alcoholism.
The friends I got to see yesterday reminded me of my priorities. They are truly beautiful people. The light in their eyes, the smiles on their faces, the heart and soul they pour out in their words. We laughed. We talked about balance, grace, self-discipline, change.
And as one friend so aptly put it: "Let's try not to get swallowed up by life." Pause. Just pause.
Perspective regained. Thanks to the beautiful people! You know who you are.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Cancer On My Mind
Today I am grateful for rest. I am also grateful for the people in my life who continue to do well after their own cancer diagnoses.
Cancer is on my mind. A co-worker's spouse has surgery today. A friend's friend just got diagnosed. Four years ago today (May 17, 2009) I ran a half-marathon--five months to the day after my mastectomies (December 17, 2008). It was a memorable milestone in my recovery. I haven't run that particular race since, but I will be running it on Sunday. It's my way of celebrating being five years out from my own diagnosis. (That anniversary comes later this month.)
Truth is, cancer is on my mind often. But it is often on the fringes, not the forefront. Angelina Jolie's op-ed piece in the New York Times and all the discussion that has generated has been all over the news as well this week. Jolie made a personal decision based on the information she had. That information clearly showed her at high-risk for getting breast cancer. The preventative measures she took are the ones many women choose, they just don't make the headlines. I commend Jolie for the way she came forth with this, but I commend the everyday heroes who face these choices too, some without the good fortune of access to exceptional health care.
And I commend people like Lisa Adams and Mark Weber, living each day with Stage IV cancer. Lisa Adams' latest blog post talks about time, about six minutes. You can read it here. How does that look to someone dying from cancer?
How does that look to someone like me? No evidence of disease today. Set to run a half-marathon in a couple days. Though the lens I am viewing life through is much different than Lisa Adams' lens today, I think we both would agree that time is precious. Today is precious. I will try to honor that by taking gratitude with me throughout the hours and minutes.
Cancer is on my mind. A co-worker's spouse has surgery today. A friend's friend just got diagnosed. Four years ago today (May 17, 2009) I ran a half-marathon--five months to the day after my mastectomies (December 17, 2008). It was a memorable milestone in my recovery. I haven't run that particular race since, but I will be running it on Sunday. It's my way of celebrating being five years out from my own diagnosis. (That anniversary comes later this month.)
Truth is, cancer is on my mind often. But it is often on the fringes, not the forefront. Angelina Jolie's op-ed piece in the New York Times and all the discussion that has generated has been all over the news as well this week. Jolie made a personal decision based on the information she had. That information clearly showed her at high-risk for getting breast cancer. The preventative measures she took are the ones many women choose, they just don't make the headlines. I commend Jolie for the way she came forth with this, but I commend the everyday heroes who face these choices too, some without the good fortune of access to exceptional health care.
And I commend people like Lisa Adams and Mark Weber, living each day with Stage IV cancer. Lisa Adams' latest blog post talks about time, about six minutes. You can read it here. How does that look to someone dying from cancer?
How does that look to someone like me? No evidence of disease today. Set to run a half-marathon in a couple days. Though the lens I am viewing life through is much different than Lisa Adams' lens today, I think we both would agree that time is precious. Today is precious. I will try to honor that by taking gratitude with me throughout the hours and minutes.
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