The Healing Spirit

Photo: Charlie and his Aunt Jo shooting hoops this summer

The power of the mind to be our best friend or worst enemy is a known phenomena. This is true with health challenges that we have to deal will. It seems that even people who get angry and react strongly to bad diagnoses, if they turn those mind states to active or fight energy, it can have a positive outcome.

There seems to be two types or ways to relate to difficulties in life - with a negative reaction or a positive one. But one person who has done a serious amount of research split these types into two further categories.

He included the energies of passive or active. So, according to him you either have active angry or active positive or passive angry or passive positive. And accordingly he has seen that the two groups that seem to benefit the most from their attitudes are the active group. They have taken an active interest in their predicament and so are very proactive in taking a strong interest in their healing journey.

Whether they are angry or happy, the important element is the desire to make a difference in how they beat their illness. They have a very strong desire to be well and healthy and continue their lives as they want and not as dictated by prognoses, etc. They ain't gonna be beat by their diagnoses and will give their true fighting spirit every chance available.

I vacillate between "No, I don't want this" and "Okay, this is how it is. Let me work it out as best I can". Right from the get-go of finding out there might be a problem in August, I was Ms. Research herself :) Go, go Joby!!

Whatever life delivers to us, how do we relate and react. From the small stuff to the bigger stuff. Are we prepared to actively "go for it"!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Photo: Sunrise, Winter Solstice 2007

The light will now increase. May our paths in this world be peaceful, safe and open hearted.

Both my husband and my mother said that, if they could, they would undertake this operation for me. (My Dad would, too, 'cos I know my Dad)

True love is boundless.

May we have boundless love for all beings.

More Medical Stuff

Photo: Western Tree Frogs, at home, in my garden

Ron and I did the medical rounds again yesterday. A final visit with the breast surgeon; this is a pre-op consult where I get to be checked physically - again. I actually got very sad and a voice in me said "NO - not again!". I started to cry and rather push through the feelings and make myself undress and put on the gown, I just stayed with the painful feelings.

Ron was great, he was a good "witness" - he was able to just be still and loving, just staying with me with no agenda of how it "should be".

I was, eventually, able to "gown up" and then the doc arrived and was very kind and compassionate. He talked me through all the paper work and happenings for next Thursday. And as he left he gave me a hugg. I feel I am extremely fortunate to have a surgeon who is both very skilled as a surgeon and has the ability to connect emotionally.

We next drove down to the hospital in the town of Sonoma. I chose this hospital as it is a smaller community hospital with more personalized care. The mastectomy operation is not considered a high risk but in the event of serious complications (highly unlikely) I could be transferred to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital which has a trauma center.

The pre-admitting nurse was very friendly and helpful and carefully explained chronologically how the day would unfold and where to go , etc. when I arrived. I then got to have a routine chest x-ray and offer up some more blood. The blood person was very experienced with the needle stick which is always nice (!).

I continue with all my alternative treatments. The surgery part of my healing path is only a portion of my whole healing journey. In my view, holistic health incorporates all aspects of medicine. Ultimately, we each are completely 100% responsible for our own health and well being. Only we can do it for ourselves! There is no magic pill that we can just buy (sorry!).

It does take a lot of extra work to stay healthy these days, as our beautiful planet, Earth, that we live on has been seriously polluted by us humans. We live off this planet - now we get to reap our results. It is a cause and effect relationship - truly!

Sustainability. A word in common usage these days. With a wonderful meaning. Is what we do sustainable? Can "this" continue in it's present form; both for our bodies and our planet. The implications are far reaching and of dire importance.

(Hey, if you like - you can all start your own blogs and be wannabe philosophers, too! ;)

I've Got The Best!

Photo: I have the Best Husband in the World!

Sorry everybody - but if you think you have the best partner - well, I've got him ;) He is my wonderful, most amazing life partner and best friend. He has been with me every step of the way with this "interesting" time of my life.

I'm so incredibly blessed to have someone who can, literally, take the (very) rough with the smooth; stay calm and balanced in times of great adversity; and then bounce back to uplift, love and soothe.

He is with me at every medical appointment. He is a brilliant medical advocate. His mind has the analytical quality to be able to ask and see many questions around any given subject. He is a total back up for each and every interaction that I go through. He has joined me in many of my alternative treatments and lifestyle changes (good for him, too!).

He loves to shop for new and different health stuff and is so happy to present his finds to me. And he is forever exploring and researching new data and therapies in breast cancer. He makes great gourmet salads! And is the world's best hugger :) He rented a beautiful house by the ocean to support my healing especially after surgery.

He is a true spiritual best friend. Completely devoted to my true happiness and willing to facilitate anything to further my path to complete freedom.

Well, actually I could easily go on and on. (He is amazing with kids and animals, etc. etc.)

He truly is one of the most generous and sweet hearted people alive on this planet!

Thank you my brilliant and darling husband - you are the best!! xxxxxoooooo

Happy 19TH Wedding Anniversary tomorrow.

Wedding bliss. Perfection. I am the luckiest girl.