Collective Energy

Collective Energy

Ruth and I just returned from the most incredible conference we’ve ever attended. The annual meeting for young women affected by breast cancer was held last week in Jacksonville, Florida. The most valuable lesson I took away from it was the power of “collective positive energy” amongst these women and their caregivers. The one word that comes to my mind is…WOW!

All of these women are in the dance of life with breast cancer. We met women of all ages in all phases of BC working toward a common goal--wellness. Collectively they shared their stories and encouraged one another to realize that “this too shall pass.” Breast cancer is just a part of the journey and was never intended to be the whole focus of one’s life. It can, if you allow it to, provide you with an opportunity to move on to a whole new--and better--quality of life.

If Ruth and I touched a chord with even a tenth of the people that made an impact on our lives over those three days, we are blessed. Every journey story we heard was uplifting, and each woman touched our hearts. We thank you for allowing us to be a part of your collective energy. We look forward to hearing more about your journey in the days ahead, living beyond the breast cancer path.

The New Friends of TYJ

A special “thank you” to Margaret, Michele, Jane, Laura, Jessica, Amy, Jane, Jennifer, Wendy, Sharon, Tiffany, Nicole, Bethany, Angela, Lisa, Judy, Andrea, Carla, Melody, Pat, Sandra and Bill. Many blessings to Kristine and Ishiuan.

Click on "Comments" below to share your thoughts or opinion.

It's All Good

It’s all good

A friend, who is a weekly traveler, called recently so that we could update one another on our lives. I think we’d all agree that in the past few years air travel has become a lot more stressful due to heightened security, delays and cancellations, baggage foul-ups, overbooked flights and a host of other problems that try our patience.

I asked my friend how she deals with these challenges, bearing in mind that she has virtually no control over any aspect of it. She replied that at any given moment you can look around and find a ‘life reminder’ that makes you realize that the travel setback you’re experiencing is a temporary one that will pass. Whenever she finds herself in line with fifty other passengers, scrambling to get to her next destination, she looks around and invariably finds a lesson. Just last week it was a young man who had to manage the situation from a wheelchair. A few weeks earlier it was an older couple that rarely traveled, trying desperately to find their way home from a missed connecting flight. She added that it’s never hard to find a soldier leaving for another tour or trying to get back to friends and family.

My friend’s ‘life reminders’ are a wonderful lesson for your journey. No matter what the circumstances in your day the blessings are all around you. A better frame of mind is within sight or just a thought away.

Note to Self

Change the way you look at things and notice how all things change--usually for the better.

Click on 'Comments' below to share your thoughts or opinion.

Mid Life?

Midlife?

My niece texted me from college yesterday to let me know that three of her sorority sisters had been in a terrible accident. All three girls died in the accident. This tragedy happened on a Sunday afternoon as the two cars were traveling side by side down the freeway. The car in the right lane tried to merge left ahead of the girls, and though there was no contact between the vehicles, the girls lost control while trying to avoid hitting the merging car. Not only were these girls my niece’s sorority sisters, they were also my sorority sisters in Kappa Delta, albeit ages apart.

This shocking event made me really think about a recent article I wrote on midlife joy vs. midlife crisis. In the article, I was questioning what the midlife age is and why we associate it with crises instead of noting it as a wonderful time in our lives. It’s hard to realize that midlife for these girls was probably age 10 or 11. These types of life events remind me regularly that we never actually know when we are in midlife. The only thing we know for certain is this moment.

For the great majority of us, college life was largely a period of friendships and accomplishments that have left us with cherished memories. I’m sure the Kappa Deltas at Georgia Southern will always remember these girls, our sisters, and will be encouraged by this tragic event to carry the value of everyday moments into the rest of their lives. I have no doubt that this is what these young women would have wanted us to do.

In Memory of Melissa, Jessica and Jamie.

Click on "Comments" below to share your thoughts or opinion.

The Zero Degree Theory

The Zero Degree Theory

If there is one thing that I know with absolute certainty, it’s that you are currently experiencing the Zero Degree Theory regardless of your age. This theory guarantees that at any given time in your life you’re dealing with a challenge in some form or other. These challenges vary in impact and intensity from a major illness, career change, or serious relationship issues to the more trivial like a math exam, weight-loss program or even just a bad hair day. Sometimes the bumps in the road are small and at other times they look insurmountable. I believe with all my heart that the “tool kit” you need to work through any life challenge is and has always been within you. The tools are accessible at all times and are just a thought away if you need them. This kit contains some of the most powerful tools in the world: inspiration, courage, love and serenity, to name just a few.

I’ll never forget the day I heard the words “You have cancer.” I fell to the ground crying and proceeded to have a pity party for about two hours, inviting family and friends to join in. Then it all sank in; I needed to take control of my life and not let cancer make any decisions for me. I was sure I possessed all the tools necessary to get through this part of my life’s journey. I had the strength and courage within to find my way back to healthy happy living. And that’s just what I did.

There will be many tests and trials on your journey. Every day you’ll have discussions with yourself questioning your own ability to cope with what is going on in your life. Be patient and look within for the answers. They’re all there inside your heart.

“There will never be another now, I’ll make the most of today. There will never be another me-I’ll make the most of myself.” –R.Schuller

Note to Self

Give yourself permission to know there is a natural order to all the days and events in your life. It’s up to me to make the most of myself no matter what comes my way.

Click 'Comments' below...