Trust

Trust

I woke up this morning with the word “trust” on my heart. In talking with friends about work, or listening to news about the economy and an upcoming presidential election, we seem to run into this profound and meaningful word daily. Whether it’s a presidential candidate, the CEO of a powerful public company, or a manager trying to convince an employee about job security, they all want us to trust them.

I love that word “trust,” and I don’t use it casually. It was the key word that led to the Trust Your Journey epiphany I had almost 4 years ago. Trust means:

1. Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person (you) or thing; confidence.
2. To rely upon or place confidence in someone or something: to trust in another’s honesty.
3. To have confidence; hope: Things work out if one only trusts.

The one revelation that the cancer path produced was that I needed to trust myself. I now fervently believe that the most important “trust” is the ability to trust yourself, and the second most important is for others to be able to place confidence in you. I also believe that trust is a word that adds so much meaning to our lives that we should always return to its serious core meaning before using it. Based on my life experience so far, I can tell you that everything happens for a purpose. Trust me.

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Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness

It’s hard to believe that October is here and, as you may already know, October is breast cancer awareness month. Trust Your Journey is truly about life, but breast cancer was a major factor that led to TYJ’s creation.

A few days ago I celebrated my 4th year anniversary as a breast cancer survivor. In some ways the memories are so vivid that it feels like it all happened yesterday. I’m grateful that the experience produced Trust Your Journey , three everyday words that now offer support and encouragement to women whose lives are facing daily challenges in many forms.

I honor all the breast cancer victors out there, and I encourage those of you still on the tough road to wellness to take heart from our stories and to Trust Your Journey. You are not alone. All of your loved ones are in this with you, and the TYJ family is here to offer hope, understanding, and the very special “energy” you need to get through this trial. Especially during October, we look forward to celebrating your own personal victory over this disease.

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The M&Ms

The M&Ms

When I was about seven years old, if my dad had a meeting at night he’d often bring home three small bags of M&Ms for me and my sister and brother. For us kids, that was a really big deal. As soon as he handed us the treats, we’d go into the living room, open the bag and count our M&Ms. As you might expect, one of us would usually end up with one or two more than the others, and that left the others feeling less fortunate and a little cheated. As I grew older I realized that a package of M&Ms was sold by weight and therefore each of us kids had the same amount of chocolate but not necessarily the same number of M&Ms.

My view of life today takes a cue from the M&M experience. I truly believe that we all have within us the same amount of chocolate. It’s up to us to recognize and appreciate all that we are and can be. There’s no need to sit around and count each other’s M&Ms when we should be discovering our purpose in life and embracing our unique journey with trust and love.

“There is a simple memory aid that you can use to determine whether it is the correct time to have chocolate: any month whose name contains the letter A, E, or U is the proper time for chocolate.”
--Sandra Boynton (1953- ) American Writer and Illustrator

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Seeing Things Differently

Seeing things differently

So often we get stuck in one way of viewing situations or life events instead of trying to see things differently. It’s not easy picking up a different pair of glasses to get another perspective on or to find purpose or meaning in all things that happen to us.

Last week I was at lunch by myself and overheard a conversation between a man in a wheelchair and a lady. I don’t know what events confined him to a wheelchair, but I do know that he sees things differently than most in his situation. He obviously had turned what would seem to be a tragedy into an opportunity to help others. He was headed to Africa soon to teach children with disabilities how to make the best of what life had handed them. He definitely did not see his condition as a handicap but as an opportunity to make a difference.

I think there are countless opportunities for each of us to find a purpose in all things that happen in our lives. Many times we just need to take a moment, see things differently and know we can choose to make something good out of just about any situation.

“I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn her back on life.”
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) American Political Leader and First Lady

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The Olympic Year

The Olympic Year

I absolutely love the Summer Olympics. It’s such a wonderful opportunity for people from all walks of life, ethnic backgrounds, and religious beliefs to come together for a few weeks every four years for vigorous competition. It’s great to watch on TV but even more exhilarating when you’re a spectator at the events. I had the honor of attending the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and was living in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympics. This year, I’ve seen more sports on Olympic telecasts than I never knew existed, like a two-person flat canoe and trampoline competition. If I had only known as a kid that all those somersaults on the trampoline or on my bed could’ve led to my becoming an Olympian. I was clearly ahead of my time.

The Olympics are a wonderful example of what happens when we put aside our differences, albeit for a couple of short weeks, and see the common good in all humankind. It’s competition and camaraderie at its best. It matters not from where you come because the vision and goals are all the same.

“I use sports as a vehicle for learning: Just about everything you want to know is there.”
--Colleen Cannon (20th/21st Century American Triathlete)

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The Homeless Woman

The Homeless Woman

As Ruth and I were having lunch with a friend at a table outside, a homeless woman approached us. She wasn’t looking for money but rather asked to use one of our cell phones. As we all know, pay phones are gradually disappearing from most public venues. She seemed to be a bit troubled so I asked for the name and number of the person she wanted to call. I dialed the number, and sure enough John answered the phone and agreed to speak with her. The lady sat nearby and had a conversation with John that lasted at least ten minutes. When she had finished, she returned my phone, thanked me, and vanished into the hubbub of the area.

I have thought about her often since that day. There were many lessons I came away with but none as great as realizing the value of a simple conversation with someone you know. I don’t know anything about this lady’s journey, but I do know I became a small part of it last Saturday by giving her ten minutes of cell phone time with a friendly voice. Ruth and I believe that there are no coincidences in life. We’ll likely never know the true impact of our modest effort to help, but there’s little doubt that this woman entered our lives for a few minutes, and we’re all better for it.

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Checkup

Checkup

I just got back from Atlanta after having my six month checkup for breast cancer. Needless to say, even when you’re healthy again there’s something very emotional about visiting your oncologist, the doctor who gives you your protocol of chemotherapy to keep you going. The waiting room is a very moving place because most of the 30+ seats are occupied by patients and caregivers. There’s a routine here that begins with checking in and then sitting in the waiting room until it’s your turn to have blood drawn. Then it’s back to the waiting room until your name is called for either treatment or a checkup visit like mine.

On this particular day, there are more people waiting for treatment than checkups. I feel the pain of many and always try to create a higher positive energy for those around me who are waiting their turn for treatment. It’s a difficult but much-needed practice in environments such as these to create healthier surroundings. It’s truly one of the key reasons why Ruth and I founded Trust Your Journey.

My checkup was great, and I’m healthier than ever. I did take away one sad bit of news from my checkup. My chemo buddy, Mrs. Perun, about whom I wrote in previous journal entries as well as in Breast Cancer Wellness magazine, passed away last month. I’ll miss her and will be forever grateful for all she did for me during my own chemo treatments.

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”
--Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962)

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