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Inspire! 💖

Before being diagnosed with Colon and Breast Cancer, I understood the devastation of this disease because I lost my mom to Colon Cancer.

A conversation with my husband a couple of days ago about top ten westerns somehow led to actress Elizabeth Montgomery. (Star of 1960’s TV show “Bewitched”) Now, I find myself reflecting that some of my favorite actresses (Gilda Radner and Madeline Kahn to name just 2) succumbed to cancer. The spotlight gave them the opportunity to create awareness and be real about their story.

I have a friend who lost his wife a couple of years ago tell me recently I inspire him. I felt so humbled by his statement, especially in light of his personal heartbreak.

I’m not a celebrity, but I do feel passionate about relating my cancer experiences through my writings because I want to use my journey as a way to give back and maybe inspire someone else reading my posts to have faith and believe in their own power to create a beautiful life.

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Edie Falco - "The Sopranos"

Edie Falco – “The Sopranos”

Christina Applegate - "Married with Children "

Christina Applegate – “Married with Children “

Sheryl Crow - Singer/Songwriter

Sheryl Crow – Singer/Songwriter

Rise!

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”
– Maya Angelou

This quote by the late, inspirational Maya Angelou touches me because I subscribe to this attitude of rising from whatever challenges come before us.

I believe my fight with cancer is an opportunity to find out who I am and what I can rise above.

The more I share my thoughts and feelings about this challenge, the more my heart is warmed and my spirit lifted by messages of encouragement and support. I’ve expressed to friends and family that God loves me so much he has given me this opportunity to evolve; go to the next level on my life journey.

Every day I feel more empowered and determined to come out on the other side of cancer with my hands in the air celebrating my victory!

Freedom

What is?

What does Freedom mean to you?

•money?

•power?

•equality?

•no fear?

•life?

To me, Freedom is a frame of mind. What I choose to believe. How I shape and share my journey and move through time and space.

Freedom to believe in the impossible since there is no impossible, only the unwillingness to try.

Freedom to leap. Freedom to fly. Freedom in the faith that if I do I won’t die.😅

Whatever Freedom is for you, pursue it, embrace it and live it!

What if God Was One of Us?

While watching one of my favorite tv shows, “The Voice”, I was struck by the lyrics of a song I haven’t heard in years, Joan Osborne’s incredible 1995 hit “What If God Was One of Us?” I instinctively grabbed my laptop and began writing down the bleak thoughts that had started rushing through my head.

With all the conflict, and negative energy coursing through the world these days, the question of the song lyric – “What if God Was One of Us?” made me pause and ponder; in what spirit are we living our lives?

“What if God was one of us, just a slob like one of us, just a stranger on the bus trying to make his way home?”

How we interact with or judge others has a ripple effect. Love and compassion shouldn’t be dirty words and we should be offended by and call out those who judge the world and view people through a crooked lens. As we go about our daily lives let’s be mindful and strive to live a life of hope, mercy and kindness.

What we say and do matters. You never know who’s listening and watching.

“My religion is simple. My religion is peace, love, compassion and equality.”

“Notes from Nora”

compassion7

compassion6

compassion5

compassion4

compassion

What Would You Do If?

the ultimate question!

I’d like to believe that I’ve always been willing to go for it. Running towards the possibilities and not letting fear of the unknown be part of my thought process. My mom always instilled in me that I could do anything so being a student at the University of Michigan was another step forward and a fantastic opportunity for me to express myself. I took my dream of being a writer and turned it into a reality, majoring in Radio, TV, and Film and subsequently landing an incredible job as Creative Director for a local Rock/Country radio station.

Go Blue!

Getting married! Come on now, that’s a leap of faith. 😍

Deciding to have a child and owning the birthing experience on my terms. Not in a hospital (too sterile and rigid for me) but, not at home with a midwife. I believed there was another option so started researching for something I didn’t even know existed. A “Birthing Center”, one of the first in the state of Michigan in the late 1970’s.

Starting an acting career at 40 yrs of age and performing in one of my favorite stage productions, West Side Story!

I sang, danced, was a Jet girlfriend and executed (for the first time ever) the most amazing gymnastic flips off my partner’s arm, his back and had the time of my life! Of course, my daughter had to bring my 40th birthday cake to the theater complete with 40 flaming candles. Loved it!

birthdaycake

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today, fighting and surviving 2 cancers at once, it’s more important than ever to live up to a credo of living fearlessly! I do believe that attitude dictates the quality of your life and tomorrow is not promised so what the heck – trust yourself and go for it!

Note to self – never stop asking this ultimate and most important question:

What Would You Do if You Weren’t Afraid?

Why I Write

I am often drawn to quotes from other writers, philosophers and notables. They can be impactful and a window inside the souls of “truth seekers.” Some quotes make me go “um” and others just jump out and make me shout, YES! This is what’s in my heart; this observation expresses a feeling in a way I hadn’t thought about.

John Cheever’s quote sums up why I write and aptly expresses me:

Writing about my cancer journey is my way of making sense of the chaos of Cancer. It’s also a cathartic exercise and way to connect and possibly express what others are thinking but don’t know exactly how to explain.

Joyful Thanks!

“It’s a Beautiful Day!”

From the first time I heard this song and still now, I feel joyful and appreciative for the blessing of waking up to a beautiful day! And my intention reminds me – make the most of it!

Since I’m a word girl and lyrics get butchered all the time,😄 I picked this video which showcases the impactful words of “Beautiful Day.”

It sounds like such a simple thing to do but so easy to forget. Each day, each moment is a gift. I know for me, next time I question what’s up with time, I’ll have to reflect on my own sense of appreciation.

What’s Up With Time?

What is it about getting older and the concept of time? When we’re young, time seems to drag on. (last day of school anticipation before summer vacation.) Now, I don’t understand the rapidity of my life and life events.

But, maybe I’m looking at time from the wrong perspective.

Thinking it through and talking to my sister has brought me to the conclusion that maybe the reason that time seems to be rushing by is that I’m no longer experiencing time and viewing life like a kid, rivaling in special events and moment markers like summer vacation, Christmas, or even losing a baby tooth. Maybe the fact of the matter is that as I’m getting older I’m not making each day an event or recognizing a special moment.

As we’re approaching the end of the year, I’m looking back, and frankly there are few moments that stand out or I actually remember. January through April, forget about it, What did I do, accomplish, celebrate? Okay, in May I turned the big 60! That birthday was really surreal because I might be 60 chronologically, but internally, I still feel 23. That’s been my go-to number for years, (although the year my son turned 23 he told me it might be a little weird with us being the same age, so I agreed to bump it up to 25:)

My 60th birthday has come to mark the start of my 2015 timeline. I celebrated my bday at Universal Studios (one of my favorite destinations) and partied with the Minions, which was AWESOME!!!

But, the events that really stand out as my actual “birthday” are my diagnosis of colon cancer and then less than a month later breast cancer. Those diagnoses were truly a Godsend and a blessing – they were the catalyst for my awakening to living a mindful and purposeful life.

I thank God every day for his love, grace and the blessing of a second chance at life.

The Power of Positive Thought 🌸

My mom was the most positive person I’ve ever known. She epitomized the saying: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

She passed from colon cancer over 20 years ago. She never complained and was always a beacon of light. I was blessed to be her daughter. She is loved and missed every day.

Thanks mom for instilling in me the power and energy of positive thinking.

I Am A Determined Woman!

Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”

I loved this song when it first came out and I love it even more today! The lyrics still inspire and the rhythm excites and pumps me up. “I get knocked down, but I get up again” are definitely great words to live by and it’s a perfect rallying cry for a fierce, kick butt attitude! The song so inspired me that I put together this little slideshow. Hope you enjoy.

Director: A Determined Woman!

Music: Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping” (1997)