Lightarted Living: Dealing with a Chronic Condition Requiring Lifelon...

Lightarted Living: Dealing with a Chronic Condition Requiring Lifelon...:   

Dealing with a Chronic Condition Requiring Lifelong Treatment

 

AMKA "The friendly spirit"

A Very Brave Girl

When leaving the dog groomer's after getting Amka's nails trimmed today I smiled at my dog, who hates to have her nails trimmed, and told her she was a very brave girl. She jumped up into the car with her tail wagging and all unpleasantness was forgotten.

I realized, if I thought about it, I could say Amka is dealing with a chronic condition that requires regular lifelong treatment. She may not like getting the treatments, but they're necessary to her enjoying a high quality of life. 

There's no need for me to have long conversations with her about the nail trims beforehand. We simply need to walk into the groomers, get the nails cut, and get on with life. It is an ordinary part of life and must be dealt with as such.

Accept What IS as an Ordinary Part of Life

This perspective came to me as I have just been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer-- a chronic condition requiring lifelong treatment. And this week I'll be brave, like Amka, as I meet with my healthcare team to lay out an updated treatment plan.

Getting My Nails Trimmed

I've decided to see my treatment as my 'nail trimmings'.  Like Amka, I may not like it, but it is just something that must be done to enjoy a higher quality of life. And like Amka, I will do what must be done, not talk about it beforehand, and just get on with living.

All Is Well

The goal is to have as good a life as we can, and to do everything we can to be as healthy and upbeat as we can despite challenges, like cancer, popping up. 

As Mark Nepo said, "We must endure what we cannot escape." Let us find a balance between enduring and enjoying each moment, each day.

Dealing with a Chronic Condition Requiring Lifelong Treatment

 

AMKA "The friendly spirit"

A Very Brave Girl

When leaving the dog groomer's after getting Amka's nails trimmed today I smiled at my dog, who hates to have her nails trimmed, and told her she was a very brave girl. She jumped up into the car with her tail wagging and all unpleasantness was forgotten.

I realized, if I thought about it, I could say Amka is dealing with a chronic condition that requires regular lifelong treatment. She may not like getting the treatments, but they're necessary to her enjoying a high quality of life. 

There's no need for me to have long conversations with her about the nail trims beforehand. We simply need to walk into the groomers, get the nails cut, and get on with life. It is an ordinary part of life and must be dealt with as such.

Accept What IS as an Ordinary Part of Life

This perspective came to me as I have just been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer-- a chronic condition requiring lifelong treatment. And this week I'll be brave, like Amka, as I meet with my healthcare team to lay out an updated treatment plan.

Getting My Nails Trimmed

I've decided to see my treatment as my 'nail trimmings'.  Like Amka, I may not like it, but it is just something that must be done to enjoy a higher quality of life. And like Amka, I will do what must be done, not talk about it beforehand, and just get on with living.

All Is Well

The goal is to have as good a life as we can, and to do everything we can to be as healthy and upbeat as we can despite challenges, like cancer, popping up. 

As Mark Nepo said, "We must endure what we cannot escape." Let us find a balance between enduring and enjoying each moment, each day.

Lightarted Living: Accepting Life as it IS

Lightarted Living: Accepting Life as it IS:   

Accepting Life as it IS

 

Life is much easier when we 

go with the flow life sets before us.

Accepting life as it is--

with all of it's challenges and blemishes.

Meeting life head on 

with courage and grit.

Showing ourselves to be forces of nature

able to maneuver the challenges put before us.

Letting go of what was;

accepting what is;

creating what must be.

 

Choosing to extract joy each day

despite the challenges, turmoil, and disappointments.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow."

Mary Jean Iron

Thank you to Stefanie Oogawa for the quote from Mary Jean Iron

Accepting Life as it IS

 

Life is much easier when we 

go with the flow life sets before us.

Accepting life as it is--

with all of it's challenges and blemishes.

Meeting life head on 

with courage and grit.

Showing ourselves to be forces of nature

able to maneuver the challenges put before us.

Letting go of what was;

accepting what is;

creating what must be.

 

Choosing to extract joy each day

despite the challenges, turmoil, and disappointments.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.

Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.

Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow."

Mary Jean Iron

Thank you to Stefanie Oogawa for the quote from Mary Jean Iron

Lightarted Living: Laying Calming Seeds in Times of Need

Lightarted Living: Laying Calming Seeds in Times of Need:   

Laying Calming Seeds in Times of Need

 

As life goes round and round, 

reach out to lend a helping hand

to those who are struggling

with a life that momentarily feels out of control.

Offer up love, hugs and practical acts 

of kindness to those in need of extra care.

Sit quietly alongside them to share a moment of calm.

When we freely reach out and touch someone in need,

without interjecting comment or judgment,

we can bring comfort and lay the seeds of calming

to help others rediscover their own strength and resiliency, 

making their path forward a bit easier.

So let us pledge to gather together to love one another 

by being kind and gracious in our daily lives. 

Let us freely spread the seeds of love and calming

that will surely come back to us tenfold.

Laying Calming Seeds in Times of Need

 

As life goes round and round, 

reach out to lend a helping hand

to those who are struggling

with a life that momentarily feels out of control.

Offer up love, hugs and practical acts 

of kindness to those in need of extra care.

Sit quietly alongside them to share a moment of calm.

When we freely reach out and touch someone in need,

without interjecting comment or judgment,

we can bring comfort and lay the seeds of calming

to help others rediscover their own strength and resiliency, 

making their path forward a bit easier.

So let us pledge to gather together to love one another 

by being kind and gracious in our daily lives. 

Let us freely spread the seeds of love and calming

that will surely come back to us tenfold.

Lightarted Living: Deep Within Us is a Strength of Spirit

Lightarted Living: Deep Within Us is a Strength of Spirit:   

Deep Within Us is a Strength of Spirit

 

Out of the depths,

Deep within us,

The high spirits emerge

To support us

In troubled times.

"You've got this!"

We're with you and

ready to guide you.

All is well for all eternity.

Live each day peacefully and with purpose.

Be of good cheer.

The High Spirits say 

"Other than having cancer, you're pretty healthy!"

 I've just found out that cancer isn't done with me.

The breast cancer I had in 2022 decided to hang around

and metastasize elsewhere. 

But since we live in a time when there are lots of treatments available

I view this as merely a continuation of my on-going 

post-breast cancer treatment as I work with my oncologist to 

find different treatments to deal with the sneaky little castaways. 

And I'll practice enduring what I cannot escape. (Mark Nepo)

The good news is 

I have lots of 'high spirits' within me 

to keep me in good spirits and 

on-track for staying focused

on enjoying daily living despite

the inconvenience of cancer.

So as the high spirits said,  

Other than having cancer, I'm pretty healthy, 

and I'll carry that with me as I tackle this new challenge.

Life is Good and All is Well

Deep Within Us is a Strength of Spirit

 

Out of the depths,

Deep within us,

The high spirits emerge

To support us

In troubled times.

"You've got this!"

We're with you and

ready to guide you.

All is well for all eternity.

Live each day peacefully and with purpose.

Be of good cheer.

The High Spirits say 

"Other than having cancer, you're pretty healthy!"

 I've just found out that cancer isn't done with me.

The breast cancer I had in 2022 decided to hang around

and metastasize elsewhere. 

But since we live in a time when there are lots of treatments available

I view this as merely a continuation of my on-going 

post-breast cancer treatment as I work with my oncologist to 

find different treatments to deal with the sneaky little castaways. 

And I'll practice enduring what I cannot escape. (Mark Nepo)

The good news is 

I have lots of 'high spirits' within me 

to keep me in good spirits and 

on-track for staying focused

on enjoying daily living despite

the inconvenience of cancer.

So as the high spirits said,  

Other than having cancer, I'm pretty healthy, 

and I'll carry that with me as I tackle this new challenge.

Life is Good and All is Well