In an Unrelenting Journey....lets see whats the smallest thing that brightens your day?

melclarity

I just wanted to shout out to everyone as we are all at different stages in this journey and I guess as Im recovering from surgery I'm thinking of all of you. Thought it would be great for us all..to share something good that we're grateful for in this moment...it's hard!!! Cant be positive all the time and the journey can be unrelenting and we feel badgered to the point of breaking and no return. But as I sit here, and I look back at my journey the past 6 years, I have tears rolling down my cheeks thinking WOW I went through all that, and sometimes you can't breathe when you remember. It is hard to look forward with any certainty or peace. We feel every emotion possible and sometimes feel we're not entitled to. One word that comes to mind thinking of everyone is "COURAGE" for all of you at the beginning, doubting there is anyway you can rise to the challenge. Take one hell of a deep breath..and I promise you, you absolutely will and even in times where you felt you couldnt and I had plenty...but you will RISE every single time. 

So what is the smallest thing that brightens or lifts your day? 

Mine is...Im sitting overlooking my garden, sipping Green Tea and the sun is shining, soft music playing and Im just peaceful in this moment. I'm grateful to just sit here, complete simplicity. 

Hugs Everyone Melinda xoxo

Glemmis

Hi Melinda, I am sitting on a bus going to the city to meet a friend for lunch & shopping, something I have not done since being diagnosed last July.  I was walking to the bus stop in the rain & felt normal for the first time in a very long time. Taking the opportunity between chemo & radiotherapy to enjoy the things I used to take for granted. Someone said to me today, are you sure you can work during radiotherapy & I said I worked through 6 months of chemo so I am sure I can. There is always a little bit of negativity around but you just have to put it out of your mind xx

iserbrown

melclarity

Hey! @Glemmis Ohhh sounds wonderful! Its so true isn't it? Seems a long time in between feeling the slightest bit normal in anything!! especially the simplest things that we may take for granted. Have an amazing day! I'm sure you will! Love it!!!  Big Hugs xoxo

melclarity

@iserbrown Thank you! Yes definitely looking fully forward now, no turning back,no regrets, just peace. Whoa! says me as I tear up!!! such a reflective journey isn't it...Sounds lovely where you are, beautiful! And definitely not Corny!!! I can so appreciate your relationship and the peace, I think its gorgeous! Hugs xoxo

Zoffiel

I'm packing the car so I'll be ready to head off for a weeks holiday which includes a four night stay on the coast thanks to the good souls who contribute to the Otis Foundation.

I went shopping this morning as I'll be self catering for most of the time and had a complete brain fade when it came to what I'd need. When in doubt buy cheese. Which I did. In three different shops. Looks like about $80 worth, but what the hell. I also bought wine which I sat on the front seat so I could stroke it all the way home.

melclarity

@Zoffiel OMG I cannot stop laughing!!! Please let us know how your stay goes! Ive read alot about the Otis Foundation but its just too hard for me to organise. Cheese and wine...sounds divine!!! now thats living!!! Hugs xoxo

Zoffiel

I also bought a pumpkin, bacon and a jar of bread and butter cucumbers. For some reason I'm absurdly pleased with this little selection even though it makes very little nutritional sense. I just figure that by next week I'll be far enough away from chemo that I can enjoy some food. Bacon and roast pumpkin. Mmmm. Yeah, I know. Odd.

iserbrown

iserbrown

Zoffiel

What @iserbrown said. It's treatment, make it happen. Even if you dont take a pumpkin....

Cate64

@melclarity mine is... you guessed it!! RUNNING..... & this weekend I am running twice, once tomorrow morning 5km @ parkrun then on Sunday morning another 5km at The Brimbank Trail Run - another medal... yay go me

Then next month I am Team Captain for the Highlands parkrun Cancer Councils Hume Relay for Life Team (wow what a mouthful), we are aiming to get to the $5000 in donations so as we can choose Breast Cancer to receive a Research Grant. That will be 18 hours of running resting running resting running!!

Then in May I am running 5km in The Mothers Day Classic.

Then in July I am off to run 5.7km in The Gold Coast Marathon.

nikkid

Mine are: seeing the smiles on the faces of my two boys; the unconditional love (and excitement) of my dogs and old cat; the love of my partner; the sun on my face; planting flowers in the garden; having coffee with girlfriends x

nikkid

Yes @iserbrown  - the Otis Foundation is fantastic! I stayed with girlfriends in their place in Daylesford - just lovely. They are so easy to organise with @melclarity - just requires an email and they do the rest. The places are lovely houses either in the bush or by the beach....and no cost to us! Such a gift 

AllyJay

My peaceful and relaxing parts of my days (and nights with dreadful insomnia), is my knitting. Even with my rotten hands, which now have peripheral neuropathy from the Paclitaxel, as well, I can still hold my needles and knit. Slower, for sure, but no matter, it's not a race. The act of taking two points sticks and a ball of yarn and transforming it into something lovely and squishy, is calmness to my soul.

Cate64

@iserbrown the Otis Foundation are awesome arent they??? I recently spent a long weekend at Kez's Hideaway courtesy of them.