Who cares about a couch, right? First world problems? But the couch serves as a metaphor about what we tolerate in our lives. It is easy to numb out and and get accustomed to our discomfort. Often the thing at the root of it is so close and so obvious that we stop seeing it. Oftentimes we feel disempowered from making a meaningful change.
Storytelling has been one of the most powerful tools on my healing path. From the dark depths of shock to the dangerous ledge of the unknown, words planted an anchor to hang onto. Syntax sutured up the ragged edges of emotional and physical wounds. I can commit words to tell a story and rely on… Continue reading Rewrite Your Story
WHAT IF runs you wild. Heart races. Stomach clenches. Palms sweat, teeth grind. The worst case scenario chases circles in your mind. It takes you out of now and into a place later on today, or tomorrow, or next week. But what if... just for right now, you planted your feet squarely on the ground,… Continue reading Give your Fear a Job
I'm grieving for my mother in law, Linda, who only yesterday turned 64 years old. She is slipping further down the long dark well of early onset Alzheimer's. Today I found myself trying to express to her, in the simplest of ways, that bad things happen to good people. Even as her brain function is… Continue reading The Long Goodbye
In hindsight, these are the things I wish I knew before being diagnosed with breast cancer. From getting that suspicious lump checked out to healing from surgery, here are some important tips and considerations for the newly diagnosed. 1. Don’t wait to get it checked out! Set your mind at ease and nip it in… Continue reading 10 Things I Wish Someone Told Me -Tips to Help When You Suspect Breast Cancer
After treatment ends, and the “Survivor Confetti” is swept away, there are unique challenges for the younger cancer survivor. While much of the focus is on the newly diagnosed, and the actual fight to overcome cancer, little is discussed about this latter part of the healing journey. As a 3 year survivor, I know firsthand… Continue reading Finding the Path Through the Pain: a Roadmap to Rebuilding Your Life After Cancer
When surgery is looming, finding the people, practices, activities and rituals that speak to you, that give you grounding and meaning is the place to start. Here are some ways that I prepared emotionally for my surgery after a cancer diagnosis.
When I imagine the voice of God, I think of the smell of mildewed bibles and lemon wood polish. I see the blue and green itchy plaid jumper, interwoven with threads of yellow, my pale scabby knees jutting out over the edge of the pew. I remember the white leather bound missal with gold embossed… Continue reading Do Not Squander Your Gifts
There has been a growing unrest between the daily headlines. I can read it in the new creases of my brow. Lines have been drawn and the artillery of offensive acts and politifacts carefully stacked. I am armed to the teeth and ready to face the enemy. That is where my story ends. Really I… Continue reading Giving Thanks in Times of War
There is a raw wordless ache in my core. When I start to approach it, it builds into a fire that agitates my whole system and threatens to engulf the whole of me. It’s in my pulse and my blood. My scalp prickles and my hair hurts. I itch all over. My hands are restless,… Continue reading Coping with Loss after Cancer
