PART ONE: THE CONCEPT/PRINCIPLE
PART TWO: SOON TO FOLLOW ON TWO ICONS WHO EMBODIED THIS PRINCIPLE
I have made Posts with separate parts. Yet, then I never finished Part Two. In this case, PART TWO of this Post is almost totally written. 👌
WARNING: POSITIVITE & INSPIRATIONAL POST 😏
DEDICATION:
I’m dedicating this Post to all who are suffering right now.
I send you peace, power, strength and I hope that this Post can help in some way or another.
- Whether your struggle is due to a:
- health issue; like cancer, especially. brain cancer;
- mental, emotional and/or spiritual challenge;
- loss of a loved one;
- financial problems;
- and/or anything that seems so beyond your control
FURTHER DEDICATION:
I’m also dedicating this Post to a fellow Writer/Blogger, Nancy Stordah, @NancysPoint who writes a Blog “Nancy’s Point.”
Recently, Nancy shared a Post about how the idea of positivity is pushed onto cancer patients constantly.
A link to Nancy’s Post is in my Post cited below.
My Post:
https://braincancerbabe.com/2021/08/22/nancys-point-2021–summer-blogging-challenge/
So, I began contemplating “Nancy’s Point” about positivity … (See what I did there?)
REMAINING POSITIVE
I’ve remained a very positive-thinking person since my initial diagnosis, through ALL my surgeries and despite a pretty damn terrible prognosis.
OTHERS’ FEELINGS TOWARDS CANCER AND POSITIVITY
I have discussed “whether positivity makes any difference” with many cancer survivors.
“I’ve received such a wide spectrum of opinions!”
While, some people truly believe in the power of positivity; others think it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference! And that’s totally fair.
Actually, I personally feel like unless, it’s harmful to your mental health, then in my humble opinion:
“It’s your journey. You’re entitled to feel whatever you feel.”
So while, I continue to remain positive, I don’t cast judgment upon others who feel differently!
“Trust me, I don’t believe cancer is all rainbows and unicorns. Yet, it has very strangely brought, great and even amazing things into my life.”
GREAT THINGS THAT CANCER BROUGHT INTO MY LIFE:
“Yes, very strangely cancer brought good, even amazing things into my life.”
(“IF YOU IMMEDIATELY WANT TO VOMIT WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, “I GET IT!”BUT JUST HEAR ME OUT:”)
- Before cancer, I never recognized how truly strong I am. I mean I knew I was “tough”, but through cancer, I’ve battled the most ferocious beast, brain cancer, and made it this far!
- Ah, I found “my tribe”- (people I likely would have never met but for cancer ) and they’re some of the strongest, most uplifting, inspiring people you could ever meet
- Importantly, I learned who truly truly cares about me and then learned to cut-out toxic people in my life (not easy, but it needed to happens).
- I found my purpose in life
- It allowed me to save my money to travel the world. Without the grind of a stressful, full-time job, I travel on my time when I want and for as long as I want. Of course I do so in between surgeries, hospital stays, scans, etc. I very much miss my full-time 6 figure salary, but, it’s strange that I’m happier now, as odd as that sounds!
- I truly do appreciate things more now
- I’ve faced my mortality (a bit too young and too many times, though).Yet I look back on my life thus far, and I know how lucky I have been and continue to be
- I became way too knowledgeable about the healthcare system and ALL its flaws, so much so that I became a patient advocate and fundraiser for various non-profits.
- CHECK OUT MY PAGE IF YOU’RE INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE.https://braincancerbabe.com/lets-connect-easy-way-to-find-prior-posts/
“WORKING” AS A PATIENT ADVOCATE
They say, “Law school makes you think like a lawyer and you’ll always think that way” Boy, is that true!
Thus, I took my skills as an attorney – being a writer, researcher, persuasive public speaker and I became a fierce advocate, raising awareness and critical funds for cancer research, and “And Hey, met some celebrities along the way!”
Yes, it’s definitely like having a job, but since I cannot officially “work”, I do what I can, when I can.
BEING AN ADVOCATE AND “BEING THE CHANGE”
ADVOCATING ON CAPITAL HILL & HAVING SOME FUN WITH MEMBERS OF MY TRIBE! “JERSEY STRONG”
THE MIND/ BODY CONNECTION AND POSITIVITY
Frankly, I believe very much in the mind/body connection. While this idea has existed for centuries, although more so in Eastern Medicine, Western Medicine is slowly catching-on, finally….for example:
MIND/BODY PROGRAMS AT MAJOR CANCER CENTERS:
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins‘ has an entire Program based on the belief, “that the causes, development and outcomes of a physical illness are determined from the interaction of psychological, social factors and biological factors.
Their Program teaches one particular thing within my personal belief system:
RESILIENCE
Develop resilience. People with resilience are able to cope with stress and emotions in a healthy way. Resilience can be learned and strengthened with different strategies. These include having social support, keeping a positive view of yourself, accepting change and keeping things in perspective .
https://www.johnshopkinssolutions.com/the-mind-body-connection/
NYU Langone (One of My Many Hospitals)
NYU has The Mind–Body Patient Bedside Program. It is “a unique, evidenced-based, holistic program that has been shown to reduce pain and anxiety, lessen the effect of stress on the body, and improve sleep. These healing sessions are performed by professional, licensed healthcare providers and offered free of charge” through the Medical Center.
https://nyulangone.org/patient-family-support/integrative-health-services-for-adults
Dana Farber
Also, Dana Farber has a full integrative medicine Program at The Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living.
According to their website:
Research increasingly suggests that a healthy lifestyle — regular exercise, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and lean protein, and weight management — can help patients recover from cancer treatment and is important for health and wellness throughout treatment and beyond.
Exercise and Mind/Body Movement Programs
The Zakim Center offers a variety of virtual exercise and mind/body movement programs, including free classes in qigong, tai chi, yoga, and women’s exercise. These therapies, which include mind/body, meditation, and breathing techniques, can ease tired muscles, reduce stress, and increase positive energy.
https://www.dana-farber.org/for-patients-and-families/care-and-treatment/support-services-and-amenities/zakim-center-for-integrative-therapies/
“YOU MUST BE THE CHANGE“
As stated in the quote from Deepak Chopra at the top of this Post, he advises that YOU must be the change if you want to make a difference in your life, or even the world. Hence, you cannot continue suffering with the same fears or beliefs, and attitudes.
Thus, if major, well-respected medical centers believe in the mind/body connection, and that positivity does help through the hell cancer brings into our lives….
Well, I’m gonna stick with it!
Yet, if you want to see a positive change, “YOU must be that change.”
Basically, it’s the same principle as:
“If you cannot control something in life, well you can control your response.”
I WROTE ABOUT MY STRUGGLE WITH THE CHANGES CANCER BROUGHT INTO MY LIFE IN THIS POST:
https://braincancerbabe.com/2020/01/05/struggling-with-change/
LIFE IS TOUGH AND WE’LL ALL FACE SERIOUS CHALLENGES
“No no one ever said “life is fair”. RIGHT?
Life sure does throw some seriously shitty curveballs.
When one of those 100 mph curveballs came straight at me in 2014 when I was initially diagnosed with brain cancer:
I knew I had to “be the change” in order to survive. So, along with the help of my amazing doctors, I kept-up the fight.
BEING POSITIVE IN THE TOUGHEST TIMES: TERMINAL CANCER
Therefore, approximately 7 and a half years later now facing a “potential”terminal diagnosis, I personally believe that I must remain positive, resilient, and continue “to be the change” to withstand an immense fight for my life, as well as all the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual toll this diagnosis wreaks upon us as cancer patients.
SIDE NOTE: Some doctors have referred to my metastatic cancer as “terminal”. Some say “it’s very complex and serious, but you’re not “terminal”.
Thus, since there’s differing opinions and I still have treatment options, I’m doing my best to continue staying positive and never losing hope.
“Sure, I have some days I’m convinced I’ll die sometime way too soon.”
Yet, as my father says, “THE ONLY THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE CERTAIN, ARE DEATH AND TAXES.”
Obviously , I’d love to live until I’m old and grey, but that’s not too bloody likely.”
However, when my final days come, I want to reflect upon my life and know I made a difference somehow, some way; that I was “the change”
PART TWO (Coming Soon)
In Part Two of this Post, I highlight two historical icons, DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. , and GANDHI, who embodied “Being the Change.”
