Quote of the Day: Victory belongs to the most persevering. Napoleon Bonaparte
Custom # 15: Do not eat red meat.
Today I woke up and realized that I was feeling a bit better- less nausea- which means, I would in turn, be able to deal w/ life more positively. I’ve come to realize that one of the most debilitation effects of this disease could be the depression and anxiety that it carries w/ it. I hadn’t considered that when I was first diagnosed. Instead, at that time, I thought of what it would mean to tell everyone I had cancer, changing my perception of myself- instead of a healthy person but one w/ cancer, dealing w/ the changes of my lifestyle and job, and losing my hair. So now, that I have confronted and dealt w/ some of those issues, this one of staying positive and hopeful looms large. It’s amazing how much better equipped we are to take on life when we have good physical health- it’s all so closely related. Physical, spiritual, and mental health is all intertwined and work together to make the whole person. That’s why if one breaks down, the others follow. I know staying positive will be more of a challenge as the weeks go by. I won’t feel like going out if I’m worried about my appearance. I probably won’t have the energy during some weeks to even want to get out. And then there’s the risk of infection. I know it will make me a stronger person, but some many lessons is such a short period of time! Oh, my! At least, it’s getting warmer outside and I will be able to soak in some of the sun’s rays as the days grow longer and warmer.
Last night, when I was feeling down, I tried to think of Maggie and Kate specifically when they turn 8 and get baptized. That was an important time for me and I want to be there for them. I am going to focus on being there, in superior health and picturing them in white. Nate, Mary and the girls came to church w/ us today. I loved having them there. Kate is so cute and good natured. The teenage girl if front of us kept looking at Kate so we asked her if she wanted to hold her. She looked directly into Kate’s face and later in the meeting bore her testimony about how beautiful and pure children were. It was a sweet moment. Later, when we were home, Maggie- who recently saw Tangled and loved it-said to me “You have beautiful hair like Repunzel”. We all just looked at her and no one had the heart to tell her that it was all going to be gone in a week. We’re trying to prepare her for a bald Grandma head. It’s hard to know what to say.
Rachel came over for a visit, laden w/ gifts, pajamas, hair-care products- gentle for the scalp- and beautiful music. Rachel is a dear runner friend who is also everyone’s hairdresser- she is fabulous w/ hair and color. She is 7 months pregnant, expecting her first baby in May- a little girl. We, runners, are so… excited for this baby’s birth. It gives me great hope that this little girl will be welcomed so warmly into this world. What I loved most was that Rachel stayed for a while and we caught up on all the happenings.
Maggie (3) and Kate (9 months)
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