Archive | November 2016

Faith and Dreams of a Lifetime🙏🏽🛫

I never cease to be amazed by the blessings in my life. The lessons I learned during my battle with Colon and Breast Cancer on patience and being present in each moment have deeply affected my concept of what it means to be. Each second is so precious and to under appreciate that fact robs you of the truth of happiness.

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On March 22nd, the date of my final Chemotherapy treatment, I made a promise to myself to fulfill a lifelong dream of experiencing the beauty of Florence, Italy in the Spring.

Well, as I often say, God is good every day, because not only will I embark upon my Florence adventure in the Spring of 2017, but, as the cherry on top, I also snagged a killer deal on 2 tickets – 2 ROUND TRIP TICKETS to Italy for less than $1,000 dollars! Am I blessed or what?

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Florence, Italy

At first, I just sat on my sofa and stared at the numbers on the computer screen. Did I enter the wrong destination? Is this fare for Florida? No! After calling Delta Airlines, who confirmed the legitimacy of the price, those bad boys were mine. And, today I sit in anticipation of this amazing gift while researching day trips to Venice, Tuscany and Rome!

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I’m still pinching myself and giving praise. Thank you, Lord, for your love, your grace, and your favor.

One of the reasons I share my journey is to serve as a living testimony to the power of Faith. When you pursue your goals with Faith, you can live the life you desire and witness your dreams come true.

Keep the Faith!

Thanksgiving Prayers🙏🏽🦃

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Every morning I thank God for the blessing of rejoicing in another day. And, every night I pray for God’s grace and favor and protection for family and friends. “Safe, healthy, and happy”. My nightly mantra.

Sharing a Thanksgiving meal with loved ones is a blessing in and of its self. Having food on the table and a roof overhead is a luxury not everyone can look forward to. As we bless one another let’s remember those without. Reaching out and sharing should be part of our consciousness as I believe that we are our brother’s keeper.

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My cup runneth over sharing another Thanksgiving, this time cancer free. Looking back over the past year I celebrate from a joyous and “woke” state of mind. No matter how dismal and bleak the world may seem, it’s always important to remember that we are only here as flesh and blood for a blink in the Universe of time.

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Our spirits can soar and our lives can be rich. It’s all us to us. What we believe becomes our reality. This Thanksgiving and every day let’s embrace love and compassion. Live each moment with mindful purpose and set free positive energy into the Universe; for the benefit of all, reaching out and understanding that we are one. Let’s make it our mission to look beyond our facades into the hearts and dreams of all humanity.

Another Blessing as Angels Abound🙏🏽

One of the truths I’ve learned and continue to experience is the presence of Angels. Walking the path of my cancer journey, I have encountered beautiful Angels sent to guard and support me every step of the way. My first Angel appeared not an hour after I was told of the Colon Cancer. She called to let me know everything was going to be alright.

On that life-changing day as I sat on my sofa with pen and paper in hand trying to figure out my next move, God had already handled it. My Nurse Angel proceeded to set me up with a Second Opinion Clinic and shared the much-needed news that it was covered by insurance. As the process continued, she scheduled appointments with my Oncologist and after the devastating news of my Breast Cancer diagnosis connected me with my incredible, talented breast surgeon.

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Going into the unknown of my first Chemotherapy treatment I met two more Angels who wrapped me up in their wings and supported me, made me laugh, and provided comfort and continued faith that I had this. Absolutely! I had no doubt this was the case because God held my hand and had indeed sent them as gifts from Heaven.

My surgeons, medical personnel, and fellow cancer patients have all proved to be smiling Angels that remain influences in my life and commitment to living mindfully with a positive attitude.

Today I’m moving forward with my life cancer free and celebrating the dawning of each new day. Regular massages used to be a part of healthy pre-cancer times but sadly had to be put on hold since traveling the cancer road.

Recently, I took advantage of a great Groupon deal for my first massage in over a year. My body was so tight and has been in such need of the release of tension and toxins that were pumped into my body. Entering the calming, aromatic environment I instantly felt relaxed and welcomed.

Once again, Angels abound in my incredibly blessed life as I encountered a kindred spirit who walks in the light of positive energy and sees her Purpose as reaching out with healing hands to extend a heartfelt message of love and compassion.

As she relieved the knots and massaged the bubbles of toxins from my body, this Angel also fed my spirit. We chatted about love and our collective souls. How significantly a simple smile or gesture can impact another person’s day; she believes as I do, our unified love is so much stronger than the toxicity of hate.

Maybe the world we find ourselves living in at this moment can be used as an opportunity to have a revolution of Love. To embrace one another no matter how familiar or foreign. We are more alike than different and maybe these times are a slap in the face to say WAKE UP! Don’t take this life for granted. Be a vessel of light and compassion. Believe in the power of Love.

Angels abound and Love is their message.

Faith + Strength + Action = Power ✊✌🏼

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Growth can come when we feel we’re at our lowest point. Finding myself fighting colon and breast cancer strengthened my resolve and faith, allowing me to put fear aside and trust in the power of prayer and God’s grace.

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Faced with devastation and shock, a period of mourning is an inevitable conclusion. However, like my cancer journey, we must respect our feelings of sadness but ultimately get back up and go forward with the fight. This is where I find myself today, dealing with recent events, my first step of picking myself back up.

It may not always be easy, but this is where the opportunity comes for growth.

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We must not give up or give in. Fight from a place you never knew existed and know that the struggle is real.

The struggle continues.

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Let Love and Compassion Lead the Way💞

One of the promises I made to myself and the Universe during my cancer journey has been to broaden my scope of awareness. That’s not always easy. In living our day to day lives we can get caught up in the grind and mundane routine of getting up in the morning, going to work (whether inside or outside the home), trying to check off all the items on our to-do list, going to bed and waking up to perform the entire exercise all over again.

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We want the best for ourselves and our families and in trying to achieve our goals can start to take a very myopic view of the world around us. I have been blessed for the positive by my fight against colon and breast cancer. Every morning I shout out, thank you God for waking me up to see another day and curing my body of cancer. Material possessions don’t have the same meaning anymore. At the conclusion of every day, I pray for the safety, health, and happiness of my family and friends.

Love and compassion, as the Dalai Lama said, is essential for humans to survive. Once we lose the ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and realize that just because it doesn’t affect us doesn’t mean it’s not important for those affected. I am a proud, progressive, liberal and want the best for mankind. People have the right to live their lives the way they want and it’s not my job or right to dictate for others.

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Love and compassion mean respecting the rights of others and not placing judgment on our fellow man and woman. If what you want hurts someone else it’s unacceptable. Plain and simple. Your rights do not trump the rights of others and being inclusive is an essential requirement of being human.

We can’t survive living in a world of hate. Hate is about fear of the unknown. Fear of others and sadly about hating oneself. I believe it all boils down to this quote from Buddha:

So, in the name of Love and Compassion, let’s reach out a helping hand and pray for the mercy and grace of us all.

Girl Power – ROAR!🦁✌🏼

Ideas for my posts are an organic experience which I love. The revelation, the elation, and joy at sharing ideas and thoughts with you.

This time while I was on my daily walk and listening to music, which I always do, Katy Perry’s tune “Roar” came on my playlist. I’ve heard it before, even at a rally for Hilary Clinton with President Obama but this time was different.

Like many others, I’ve been feeling beat up by the news, this election, and all the hate speech on social media. But suddenly, I felt this revelation. In one week, this country is going to elect the first woman President of the United States. That’s big time incredible!

The lyrics to “Roar” are perfect for Hilary’s lifetime experience of being in the spotlight and enduring unending scrutiny. She is a fighter and has gotten knocked down but gets back up and brushes off the dust. My successful fight against colon and breast cancer is all about this fighter spirit.

We can do this!

Women stand on the shoulders of American suffragists, social activists, abolitionists, and leading figures of the early women’s rights movement like Elizabeth Cady Stanton (November 12, 1815 – October 26, 1902).

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Her Declaration of Sentiments, presented at the Seneca Falls Convention held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York, is often credited with initiating the first organized women’s rights and women’s suffrage movements in the United States. She was president of the National Woman Suffrage Association from 1892 until 1900. (Wikipedia)

Stanton and the suffragettes took the vote. It wasn’t given. Women fought and died for the right to voice opinions and have a say over our destiny.

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Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm (November 30, 1924 – January 1, 2005) an American politician, educator, and author took up the mantle and in 1968 became the first African-American woman elected to the United States Congress. She represented New York’s 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. (Wikipedia)

In 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major party’s nomination for President of the United States, and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. In 2015, Chisholm was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Women are badass! We have to do everything not only backward but in heels. We give life, we make a home and make a way out of no way. There are men who fear us and to this day still don’t want us to have a voice or control even over our reproductive rights.

An African American chapter of the Suffrage Women's League

An African American chapter of the Suffrage Women’s League

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Elizabeth Cady Stanton

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Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm

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So, let’s not get caught up in all this hype and drama. This is happening. She will be elected and on November 9th we’ll look back over the past year and a half and finally be able to celebrate this historic accomplishment and let out a collective ROAR!

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