As a reluctant card-carrying member of the Glow Club, I am happy to report that today starts the final four mega boosts of my ray-diation. My burnt, rash-riddled left breast is giving thanks, as am I. I am so grateful to be on the downslope of treatment, close to the finish line and certainly past the worst, more unspeakable parts of the course. Several more infusions (6? 7? – I lost count) every three weeks, then the port comes out and I am on to the rest of my life chapter. A much wiser, kinder and gentler soul than when I started. And healthier! I still have much to learn and eons to grow, but progress is progress and needs to be celebrated along the way. N’est-ce pas?
As part of my growth, I must continue to consciously remove and/or avoid my stressors. Sounds so simple, right? Not so much. It’s so easy to fall back into old, unhealthy patterns and mindsets, without even being aware of it. I already feel it happening, and I am doing everything in my power to STOP, LOOK and THINK before proceeding. Hopefully, when I do stop and think, I will be proceeding in a new, more enlightened path than before, at least most of the time. Isn’t that what life is all about? Learning from our past and making a conscious effort to be the person we would like to be in the present and future? Walking the talk is not easy…
In closing, I’d like to give a shout out to Angelina Jolie, who released the news of her elective double mastectomy this morning. Not an easy decision, especially given her very public role and emphasis on her physical image. When I heard 2 local female newscasters denigrate her and her choice this am, commenting that “they” say she’s crazy and didn’t she used to cut herself in high school, I was horrified beyond words. In honor of Angelina, I think that I am going to categorize NEWS as a stressor and eliminate it from my daily routine. Talk about cold turkey!! On the positive side, it’ll give me more time to focus on my writing, and maybe I’ll even give painting another whirl? Wish me luck…
May. 14, 2013
Judy Richter 