Quote of the Day: Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you really are. Bernice Johnson Reagon.
From Waking the Warrior Goddess: Custom #23 Purify your body several times a year. (So, this one will also need more clarification- basically it means to stay on a pure foods diet for several weeks, and take herbs that help to purify your colon, liver and kidneys.)
I am amazed that I feel as well as I do today. Yesterday, I kept going and didn’t lie down until about 9 P.M., tried to watch a show. I didn’t take any extra nausea medicine until 9 because they push anti-nausea drugs into your IV before they give you the chemo. The pill I took last night also makes you sleepy so I slept like a baby. I woke up @ 4 A.M. raring to go! I had so much energy that I stairmastered about 30-40 minutes logging 5.1 miles. I took the new nausea medication they prescribed me and then Claritin for the shot- suppose to help with bone pain. I didn’t really know what to expect with my first session so I rested on the couch a lot- I got so claustrophobic just being inside and not feeling good enough to run errands for the first few days. This time, I am going to try to keep myself going as much as I can.
Here is my exercise challenge if anyone wants to join me: From Monday, April 4 until Tuesday, June 28 (my last chemo treatment) I will be walking 16 marathons- that’s 16-26.2 mile distances or 419.2 miles an average of 4.87 miles per day. For those of you, who skip one day a week, you would have to walk an average of 5.66 miles per day. I know on my worst days, I won’t be able to put in that milage but I will be able to make it up on those better days. So far my tally is at: 11.28 and I need to be at 14.61 so I’ll just keep adding more to my total each day. I would love to know if you are doing this with me. There’s nothing better than getting with a group of friends early in the morning, watching the sun rise, and discussing all those things that help you to be a better person! Or perhaps you love that time alone, working through all the issues in your life! There’s nothing like exercise to boost your spirit!
I like the quote today because it’s true that unless you are pushed in life, you don’t really discover who you are. There’s a Counting Crow song that says: “We always stand up straight” and I love the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt “You must do the thing you think you cannot”. One of the really weak links in my armor, is that I care way too much what others think. I always want to appear strong and confident like I have everything under control. And then you get cancer, and you can no longer pretend that you have it all together, not that we ever really do, and this very humbling experience starts where you allow people to come to your aid and you allow them to help, knowing and praying that someday you will do the same for them or someone else in their name. And isn’t that what it’s all about. We probably never really get to repay all the kindnesses done by one single person but our job is then to pay it forward because you have been touched and you know what it feels like to be loved.
So, here’s how I’m going to work on this big weakness- I’m going to go places without fear that I’ll see someone I know. I’m going to reach out and talk to others even though I will have a bald head, most definitely covered with scarf or wig (I’ll have to work up to bald head only- and I so admire those who do!) and not wonder what others are thinking- why should that matter to me? I’m going to stop this cancer from preventing me from living my life to the fullest. I’m going to stop being embarrassed that I have cancer. When people ask how I’m doing- I’m going to say “great” and mean it! And finally, in honor of Sue O., I will flipping cancer and chemo the bird every day!
Nate and Mary call me every day to see if I’m doing ok (unless I get to see them, which I so prefer!) and thanks Mack Lawrence for you call! My sister, Lynne, sent me this darling heart that says “Every cell is alive with love”. I’m going to pierce that into my mind. She also made me these darling earrings that remind me of Tahiti- ahh…warmer, carefree days!
Lynne gave me a card with a cat wearing a pirate scarf, it says: “If people ask why you’re wearing a scarf on your head and you say it’s because you’re a pirate…They’ll have no follow up question.”
Happy Birthday, Erin!
Joe and I at Chemo treatments Erin in Tahiti- January 2011
I’m in for all 16 marathons, Joe