Life Chooses the Music, You Choose the Dance

"We can't always choose the music life plays for us,

But we can choose how we dance to it."

Kate B Jackson

Dancing Your Way through Life

Life offers us a variety of tunes to dance to--

some fun, some spirited, some challenging.

It's up to us to choose the best steps and 

the best path to nimbly maneuver around life's dance floor.

Life has recently tossed the breast cancer dance my way 

and it's time for me to face the music. I'm tap dancing 

my way through treatment options, knowing while 

I certainly didn't choose this music, 

I do get to choose how I want to dance to it. 

And for me, the only choice is to dance through it 

in an upbeat, flowing and strong tempo. 

Find Your Garden of Hope 

to Ease You thru Difficult Times

In our garden of hope, 

our healing spirits gather

to plant the seeds of courage and light.

Our healing spirits build stepping stones

leading us softly on our journey with ease.

Find your garden of hope.

"Happiness has spread like peanut butter, thick upon me,

penetrating and soothing my rattled heart."  Lee Bryant

Happiness can Coexist with Tough Times

Despite my current challenge with cancer,

"happiness has spread like peanut butter, thick upon me,

penetrating and soothing my rattled heart".

How is that even possible? How can I be

happy while I'm in the middle of dealing with cancer?

Because that is where I choose to live, and that is 

what gets me through the tough times.

"We  must endure what we cannot escape." Mark Nepo

Accepting 'I must endure what I cannot escape', 

and choosing to live in the 'in-between' 

where rest and recovery reside 

are two major contributors to my upbeat state of mind.

Through life's difficult challenges 

I've learned to find ways to calm and focus myself

when the natural fear and anxiety arise, 

and I've learned to call upon my strength 

and resiliency to help me through. 

Striving to keep myself calm and focused, 

along with the support from my community assures 

happiness spreads like peanut butter, thick upon me, 

to penetrate and soothe my rattled heart despite the difficulties.

We all need a respite from worry and anxiety.

If you're going through difficult times, 

stop thinking about your troubles when you're able--

even if its for mere moments. 

Let the good things in life wrap you 

in a comforting embrace where you can rest for awhile.

Keep your focus on things that calm and center you.

Distract yourself with things you love and enjoy.

For me, doing art, listening to relaxation tapes, 

and walking my dog on the trail are all therapeutic

avenues helping to calm and focus my attention

on what's good in my life right now. 

"So, if you are too tired to speak, sit next to me,

because I, too, am fluent in silence." R Arnold

Silence is Golden 

To harness my inner strength, I manage my time with others.

'Silence is golden' are words to live by when we

need to gather our strength from within to 

'endure what we cannot escape'.

We do not always need to talk. Sometimes we just

need to sit in silence with others.

If you're struggling with with the tough stuff in life,

balance your need for silence with your need for support.

Friends and family are very understanding when you let them

know you need your downtime and silence, and that 

you may not respond promptly to phone calls.

Be Calm

"Learn to be still in the midst of activity

and to be vividly in repose."

Indira Gandhi

Your Inner Blessings

May the light of your soul guide you.

May the light of your soul bless the work you do

with the secret love and warmth of your heart.

May the day never burden you.

Kimonui Holgen

Accept all prayers, blessings and energy work

sent your way from others. You have everything

you need within you to get through the tough times,

and all the blessings from others enhances your

inner strength and courage to endure and thrive.