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Lesson for the day: “Live in the Moment.”

Dec4

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Living in the Moment!

After my final radiation treatment for breast cancer, I was kicking myself because I didn’t snap a selfie with Rachel (my technician) as I had intended, but at that emotional moment I totally forgot. Then, I came across a story on E Online that made me rethink my momentary memory loss.

At the premiere for ‘Black Mass’ with Johnny Depp, an old woman is captured – in the above photograph – as the only one not trying to take a picture like the others around her, she is gleefully living in that moment. (love her lavender frames.)😎  After treatment, my elated feelings were in real time, like the old woman’s and not about trying to capture that moment in a frame. That shot made me understand, It’s okay DM, there’s a lot to be said for “living in the moment.”

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Have Confidence in You!

Dec2
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Elle Woods “Legally Blonde”

“Confidence can be a self-fulfilling prophecy as those without it may fail or not try because they lack it and those with it may succeed because they have it rather than because of an innate ability.” Wikipedia

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I’ve praised my mom in a previous post (read here) about her ever positive state of mind and how that has impacted my world view. Another gift my mother gave me was Confidence. The belief that I could do anything I put my mind to.

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Confidence is an incredibly powerful trait to possess. It gives you wings to try and the belief in what others may see as impossible. I have no doubt that my self-confidence is responsible for the amazing opportunities and experiences I’ve had in my life.

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My acting career in community theater came about because of my self-confidence. There are those who might believe that at age 40 becoming an actress might seem like a long shot. Not me, I had the confidence and where with all to bring my own accompanist that I had rehearsed with for my audition piece. Confidence plus preparation equals success!

 

When we “Erase all Doubt” we open a vast avenue of possibilities:

My colon and breast cancer journey would be a totally different experience without a positive attitude, self-confidence and faith. It’s opened my eyes to truly living a life with purpose.

 

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Have Confidence in You!

Today’s Question 💬

Nov29

 

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I saw this image the other day and it gave me pause. I thought, how many of us have actually posed the question and applied it to our daily lives? It might sound a little metaphysical, but I think it’s an important ponderance.

Having been diagnosed with not one but two cancers, Colon and Breast – yeah I’m special like that😄 my immediate response was,to be a cancer survivor. But the question is deeper than that.

I believe it means what drives you? What brings you joy, and are you living for that feeling every day?

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Are we satisfied with a day to day grind? Getting up in the morning, dressing for work, sitting in rush hour traffic. Arriving at work, trying to keep a low profile and avoiding the boss. Somehow making it through the day, getting the heck out of dodge, and yet again enduring the traffic crunch. Arriving home, grabbing something cold to drink, plopping in front of the TV and vegging out on The Walking Dead?

This quote by the writer Oscar Wilde proclaims:

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Something to think about.

Thanksgiving’s “Four Agreements”

Nov26

What am I thankful for this Thanksgiving? The gift of life, family and friends. That’s what I’m thankful for every day – God’s grace allows me to open my eyes to another beautiful day. 

 

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I’m so thankful that God tapped me on the shoulder and woke me up to what’s real and precious in this world. I was walking around, complaining about the usual crap and not appreciating the sweetness of all the love in my life and how incredibly blessed I’ve been.

 

Not that I’d wish to have cancer, but it’s proved to be such an awakening for how I live today and the rest of my life. I’ve seen and continue to see the quote “tomorrow is not promised” and nodded yes and brushed it off as true but it never really resonated with me until I was diagnosed with Breast and Colon Cancer.

 

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One of my favorite spiritual guides is author Don Miguel Ruiz, and his New York Times bestseller “The Four Agreements.” I’ve read and re-read this book and it always brings me clarity and a deeper understanding of how we interact with others and view ourselves. 

 

On this Thanksgiving, I share “The Four Agreements” as a blueprint and roadmap for living our lives.

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 I’d recently read “The Four Agreements” before my cancer diagnosis and Agreement Number Three – “Don’t Make Assumptions” has been a life saver for me. Instead of freaking out upon hearing the news, I applied the principle, had faith and promised myself to live one day at a time.

 

 

So, Let’s Always Remember 💖

Happy Thanksgiving!

Belief in the Power of You 💓

Nov23

Feeling inspired by a message of Hope, Belief, and Love I put together this video filled with some of my favorite Believe quotes. Hopefully, it will move and empower you to have faith in yourself and your dreams.

 

Believing in yourself is where it all starts. Waking up in the morning feeling blessed and sure that something wonderful is going to happen. The mind is incredibly powerful and shapes the life we live and the world we understand. 

From the beginning, I announced and claimed to the universe that in my fight against Colon and Breast Cancer I wouldn’t have any major side effects and that although this battle is a challenge, it is also an opportunity to learn about my true self, grow in my faith, and share my blessed journey.

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This is what my heart believes, this is what my soul believes so this is what will be.

Acts of Kindness ✌💞

Nov20

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I was reading this wonderful, “Acts of Kindness” article on Upworthy, a website for viral content started in March 2012 by Eli Pariser, the former executive director of MoveOn, and Peter Koechley, the former managing editor of The Onion and thought what a great philosophy of life and being the season of Thanksgiving, a wonderful opportunity to give back.

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Here are 10 super easy acts of kindness you can do to continue to spread the love and make the world a kinder place:

1. Thank someone who’s supported you in the past, like a teacher, friend, or mentor, by giving them a hand-written letter.

2. Spend a couple hours volunteering at a local nonprofit organization.

3. Donate goods to a local shelter.

4. Buy lemonade at a child’s lemonade stand.

5. Call a friend and tell them how much they mean to you.

6. Send kind words to someone getting a lot of hate on social media.

7. Send groceries to a friend who is busy and/or going through a difficult time.

8. Put a quarter in an expired parking meter to help a stranger avoid getting a ticket.

9. Send flowers anonymously to a receptionist or security guard.

10. Leave an encouraging note somewhere on a store shelf or in a popular library book.

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We all have the power to change a life, to change the world with a simple act of kindness. Let’s uplift the world and ourselves by reaching out, lending a hand or sharing a smile.

The Beatles – “I Am The Walrus”

                          

Inspire! 💖

Nov18

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

 

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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. 

 

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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”
Christina Applegate – “Married with Children “
Sheryl Crow – Singer/Songwriter

Rise!

Nov15

“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.

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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

Nov13

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?

Nov12

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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.

 

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

 “Notes from Nora”