What's on your "BUCKET LIST"???
Most of us who have finished treatment can say our priorities are now different. We no longer sweat the little stuff.
Spending time with our family and friends becomes our number one priority as "you just never know."
I remember during treatment and especially through chemo saying to myself "when I'm finished chemo and treatment is over I'm going to....."
I love the song by Nickelback " if today was your last day"
The words are incredibly powerful to me. After listening to that song over and over I decided to write my "BUCKET LIST" just in case. If you haven't heard it download it today
I now spend my days focusing on living every day with meaning and trying to cross as many of those things off my list as humanly possible.
On my list was:
To get my first foster care placement (I now have 3 beautiful foster children on weekends)
To get to WA to visit my gorgeous bestie Mich (happened in November)
To visit Disneyland and to swim with Dolphins in the ocean (both still a work in progress)
To become more environmentally aware and grow my own veges (happening slowly when my chooks don't get to them first)
To volunteer in a Thai orphanage
To take my girlfriend and her daughter on their first short cruise (happening 6th February)
I would love to hear what's on your BUCKET LIST.
Maybe by sharing you will INSPIRE a pink sister
Mel xxx
Comments
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I want to work less and enjoy my husband and family more, I am determined to find balance. We have decided to buy an onsite caravan some where 2 hours from home and pet friendly so we are able to go home after work on a Friday and collect the dogs and then off we go.
We spent the last weekend checking out parks and vans, next weekend will be the same. I am determined to do something about it.
I want to spend more time with my sisters and have planned a holiday just we girls for later this year.
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I want to work less and enjoy my husband and family more, I am determined to find balance. We have decided to buy an onsite caravan some where 2 hours from home and pet friendly so we are able to go home after work on a Friday and collect the dogs and then off we go.
We spent the last weekend checking out parks and vans, next weekend will be the same. I am determined to do something about it.
I want to spend more time with my sisters and have planned a holiday just we girls for later this year.
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I plan to go on a long awaited holiday. It's been four years since we took a break.
My husband would like to hire a yacht on the Whitsundays. I think I could could be up for that. I have always wanted to go to Italy so that is high on my list. Less work and more time spent with friends and family.
A simpler life where I have time to take in all the beauty around me.
I want to meet up in Sydney with one of my besties who lives in Auckland for a girls weekend or week.
I have my diploma in counselling which I would like to put toward some volunteer work when I am strong and confident again.
I must admit I haven't spent much time thinking about what I want to do when I am finished treatment. Probably because I still feel pretty much in shock to find myself in this situation. However, these were things on my bucket list before BC.
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Hey huny
Unbelievable!!!! I cannot believe our two posts are the top two feature posts currently on the main page. For today we will revel in this. I guess being BCNA Beasties (hee hee) means we think along the same lines.
I luv your post and you always get me thinking.
I really have never had a bucket list. Can you believe that???? I know you have and I got to be apart of one of your quests on your list and got to share such a wonderful special time with you while you were here in Perth. Amazing how BC and BCNA can connect two people from different states in our case Australia but can also do for the World. BCNA is an incredible organisation and I never get tired of saying that.
Number 1 on my bucket list is - to get this alien boob of mine sorted. That being either being able to rejuvenate the dying cells from my rare reaction to radiation or whether that means being able to get the cells rejuvenated enough for me to be able to have the boob off and for the skin to be healthy enough to heal. Huge ask but I BELIEVE it will happen. We all know Miracles do happen.
Number 2 was to return to Bali to see my beautiful Balinese friend and her family as I have missed them so much. I get to do this with my special sisters and hubbies and in the process we are managing to get brother inlaw who has had the stroke to get to travel and to get to visit his brother who is an expat and lives on Lembongan Island in Bali. We haven't quite worked out how we are going to get him off the boat yet but we will all carry him if we have to.
Number 3 was to reduce working so much and to actually sit back and enjoy the small things in life. BC got that one sorted for me along the way.
Number 4 is to teach myself to be less stressed. I am slowly learning to do that with the help of my Yoga class, my visualisation boards, my meditation etc. A big ask but worth the trouble.
Number 5 is to somehow leave chemo brain behind as for someone who held down 3 jobs and had an immaculate house inside and out etc. I am finding the chemo brain hard to deal with so I am working on that so any suggestions ladies would be ever so helpful. I am doing a research study currently which is through the Sydney Cancer Centre, Department of Oncology. So I am hoping this helps.
Number 6 is to be fit again and lose weight. Big challenge.
These are not in any particular order.
I will keep thinking of more things to add to my bucket list Mel .Because of you I have realised how much a bucket list or a dream come true is so important.. Maybe Wall of China, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sky Jumping, absailing. The list of hopes and dream can go on. Nothing is impossible as we have found since being able to conquer breast cancer and make it through chemo and radiotherapy and now the ongoing medications................
You are a major inspiration in my life and I thank you and feel I am so lucky to have you as my BCNA Beastie.
Luv my Beastie to the moon and back. Mich xoxoxoxoxo
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Hey huny
Unbelievable!!!! I cannot believe our two posts are the top two feature posts currently on the main page. For today we will revel in this. I guess being BCNA Beasties (hee hee) means we think along the same lines.
I luv your post and you always get me thinking.
I really have never had a bucket list. Can you believe that???? I know you have and I got to be apart of one of your quests on your list and got to share such a wonderful special time with you while you were here in Perth. Amazing how BC and BCNA can connect two people from different states in our case Australia but can also do for the World. BCNA is an incredible organisation and I never get tired of saying that.
Number 1 on my bucket list is - to get this alien boob of mine sorted. That being either being able to rejuvenate the dying cells from my rare reaction to radiation or whether that means being able to get the cells rejuvenated enough for me to be able to have the boob off and for the skin to be healthy enough to heal. Huge ask but I BELIEVE it will happen. We all know Miracles do happen.
Number 2 was to return to Bali to see my beautiful Balinese friend and her family as I have missed them so much. I get to do this with my special sisters and hubbies and in the process we are managing to get brother inlaw who has had the stroke to get to travel and to get to visit his brother who is an expat and lives on Lembongan Island in Bali. We haven't quite worked out how we are going to get him off the boat yet but we will all carry him if we have to.
Number 3 was to reduce working so much and to actually sit back and enjoy the small things in life. BC got that one sorted for me along the way.
Number 4 is to teach myself to be less stressed. I am slowly learning to do that with the help of my Yoga class, my visualisation boards, my meditation etc. A big ask but worth the trouble.
Number 5 is to somehow leave chemo brain behind as for someone who held down 3 jobs and had an immaculate house inside and out etc. I am finding the chemo brain hard to deal with so I am working on that so any suggestions ladies would be ever so helpful. I am doing a research study currently which is through the Sydney Cancer Centre, Department of Oncology. So I am hoping this helps.
Number 6 is to be fit again and lose weight. Big challenge.
These are not in any particular order.
I will keep thinking of more things to add to my bucket list Mel .Because of you I have realised how much a bucket list or a dream come true is so important.. Maybe Wall of China, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sky Jumping, absailing. The list of hopes and dream can go on. Nothing is impossible as we have found since being able to conquer breast cancer and make it through chemo and radiotherapy and now the ongoing medications................
You are a major inspiration in my life and I thank you and feel I am so lucky to have you as my BCNA Beastie.
Luv my Beastie to the moon and back. Mich xoxoxoxoxo
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Thanks everyone for your inspiring replies
I saw an ad recently for TREK THE GREAT WALL FOR BCNA.
In 2005 almost a year to the day since being diagnosed with MS ( multiple sclerosis) I left my 3 chn for the first time and travelled with their dad to China for the most amazing tiring trip to prove to myself and to the MS itself that it wasn't going to slow me down. We went as part of an MS Society challenge.
I found myself on that trip but not nearly as much as I have found myself through my BC trip.
I now make sure I tell my closest friends and family I love them every time I see them. I don't sweat the small stuff and I'm proud of both myself and my children at how well the four of us have got through such a challenging time. I'm proud of myself. I'm really proud of my scar.
I'm working towards loosing a dress size or 5 kgs ( tough on arimidex) and when I reach that I will get a small pink ribbon tattoo with 3 tiny butterflies to represent my 3 amazing children and with the word LIVE on it to remind myself of how far I've come, what I've achieved and what else I can aim to cram into my life.
Mich I love you so much and I'm so blessed to have you in my life. You keep me sane lol
Sending lots of hugs to all
Mel xxx
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Hey Hazel
You reminded me I should have added Tassie to my Bucket List. My daughter paid for a trip there during my chemo and radiotherapy for me and hubby. It was such a beautiful and amazing place but I was still so very very ill so I didn't get to enjoy it the way I would have liked. I did get to walk the Salamanca Markets though which was fabulous because our accomodation was close by. Def want to go back there. Also would luv to get to NZ.
A mental note to add to my bucket list.
I hope you get to follow your dreams and wishes. Wishing you wellness and happiness.
Luv always, Mich xoxoxoxoxo
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when I finished my treatment I got a pink ribbon tattoed on my inner left wrist, I love it. I do like your idea of the butterflies, I just may add those to mine.
Mich the chemo brain thing, do you know when it goes away becuase I feel like mine has never left somedays I struggle to mind words and I am now 8 months post chemo. I think these days its just I am still in recovery and I struggle.
Have a lovely day ladies.
Donna
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when I finished my treatment I got a pink ribbon tattoed on my inner left wrist, I love it. I do like your idea of the butterflies, I just may add those to mine.
Mich the chemo brain thing, do you know when it goes away becuase I feel like mine has never left somedays I struggle to mind words and I am now 8 months post chemo. I think these days its just I am still in recovery and I struggle.
Have a lovely day ladies.
Donna
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I cannot believe how many ladies have said they want less stress in their lives. I don't care what studies say that stress doesn't cause cancer, I believe that it does or that it has some effect on dormant cancer cells.
My bucket list is small.I want to finish my degree in Communications. That will happen in just 4 weeks time.
I want to do my honours year this year.
I want to become a paid freelance journalist writing about food production and agriculture.
I want to make my own decisions. I'm making that happen now.
I don't need holidays or things, just a purpose in life so that I have reason to live for many more years.
Cas x0 -
I cannot believe how many ladies have said they want less stress in their lives. I don't care what studies say that stress doesn't cause cancer, I believe that it does or that it has some effect on dormant cancer cells.
My bucket list is small.I want to finish my degree in Communications. That will happen in just 4 weeks time.
I want to do my honours year this year.
I want to become a paid freelance journalist writing about food production and agriculture.
I want to make my own decisions. I'm making that happen now.
I don't need holidays or things, just a purpose in life so that I have reason to live for many more years.
Cas x0 -
Hey Donna
I have no idea hun when we lose our chemo brain. I am 1 1/2 years following chemo if that is the cause and there is no let up of it for me.
Wish I could give us a magic date of when it would finish cause that would be wonderful I think for many of us Pink Sisters.
Lots of luv, Mich xoxoxo
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Your Life Coach sounds wonderful Leonie. I would be interested to see what you have done/seen/visited/have/experienced since doing that list.
Hope you are doing okay luvly, Mich xoxoxoxoxo
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Hi Leonie
I agree with Mich that a visit with a life coach would be great.
If I had to be someone living with BC life coach I would say dump any negativity in your life. As cruel as it sounds that includes those friends that pull you down with their negativity and insensitive comments. You will gain so many true friends through your journey.
I would say make a vision board when life returns to your new normal and put on it all the hopes and dreams you have. THANKS MICH for that great idea
I would say to them "YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD " Mahatma Ghandi
Write that " Bucket list " and get crossing those items off as you just never know
I stumbled across a series called Last Days on you tube this week. I ended up having a very late night as I couldn't stop watching these inspiring videos. Yes they are about terminal patients but their guts and determination was amazing. One mum gave up time with her son and sent him and his sister around the world crossing off his bucket list. Heartbreaking but beautiful.
Have a great day everyone.
Its my day off and rather than spend it doing housework im taking myself to the movies then for a swim. My vision board says " this is the year to look after me " so I got myself a cleaner for two hours a week and I spend my day off on me
Mel xxx
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