The Art of Survivoring

A week from today I will be the keynote presenter at the “Ladies Night Out – Give Cancer the Boot” annual gala for the Springfield Regional Cancer Center (SRCC).  I am flattered and daunted by this opportunity to share my thoughts with an audience of 400 patients, survivors and their champions.  The date of the event falls on the 6th anniversary of my mastectomy – how fortunate I am to celebrate with kindred spirits! I will open with this claim:  The richest and most profound experiences happen when what we believe to be real and true about ourselves is turned upside down.  (If you’ve seen Brene Brown’s TED talks you know that this is a precious part of the transition process.) Then I will chime in about my driving force – to attract and to radiate positive energy.  Period.  This is my metric for success. I get there through these practices: Forgiveness Releasing thoughts that get me down Letting go of meanings of things when they don’t move me forward (Rollo May says that the opposite of love isn’t hate…it is indifference.) Managing my energy instead of following the clock Cherishing my body – and calling me out when I slam myself Treating myself to a new place or experience, when I need clarity Living in the moment (like my dogs) Choosing a word of the day that steers me upward and onward Although my scars and cancer journey can bring me down (don’t you just love the dark side of this crap), I’m getting better at making this shift: Survival...
Source: Disruptive Women in Health Care - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Cancer Source Type: blogs