Day 17 appreciation challenge

1. A nice relaxing Sunday morning.

2. Watching a clip of the broadway play Motown on TV. It gave me the chills.

3. How beautiful my mom looked today.

4. How excited mom was when she opened her gift.

5. A delicious  Easter dinner.

6. How my sister re -arranged her house so we could all eat dinner in the same room.

7. Skyping with my niece and her daughter.

8. Mom and I singing In Your Easter Bonet together.

9. My sister sent left overs home with us.

10. How we were able to get off the highway and take the back roads to avoid the traffic backup!

Day 16 Appreciation blog

1. Remembering we had a gift card which we could use for dinner tonight!

2. Finding a pair of lost earings and the match for two other pairs in the bottom of a basket  buried in my closet. ( I never even realized that they were lost.)

3.  My husband made the dessert for tomorrow.

4. Finding my wig and hats and deciding to donate them to the American Cancer Society.

5. My sister is hosting Easter.

6. My son and his fiance are coming down to join us for Easter dinner.

7. We earned a free turkey breast from our grocery store. 

8. Getting the letter in the mail today from radiology.

9. Scheduling my hair appointment for Monday. 

10. The following quote I just found and the website from where I found it:

 

 Give yourself a hug. Right now. Really. Stop what you're doing. Wrap your arms around yourself and hug yourself. Tightly. Appreciate all that you're doing and all who you love and all which you have.
           ( www.notsalmon.com)

 

 

 

Day 15 appreciation challenge

1. Crocuses are up in front of the house.

2. How the sun shines through the red curtains in my room in the morning!

3. I passed my oncologist on the road and he beeped at me.

4. A few hours get away today.

5. I bought the cutest little sunflower that dances when activated by light.

6. Baked cod for lunch.

7. Loving comments on my Facebook last night.

8. Speaking up.

9. My indoor cat goes outside and does not need a litter box.

10. Finding a quaint ice cream shop on the way home.

Day 14 appreciation challenge

1. A visit to Gallery 53. It is an uplifting and inspiring little gallery tucked away in a very depressed area of our city.

2. The mini painting I bought at the Gallery.

3. The great discussion we had tonight at art therapy about the body and mind connection.

4. I felt so much lighter today. ( Reminds me of the song Tonight and the Rest of my Life)

5. My practitioner said my body felt lighter today. She could feel it, too.

6. Burt's Bee lip gloss.

7. The hug from Cathy in art therapy.

8. Making plans for a get a way next week.

9. Finding the perfect Easter gift for my mom.

10. Daylight savings time.

Day 13 appreciation challenge

1. Fresh sheets on the bed last night.

2. How much easier the new prep was for my colonoscopy than the one I had last year!

3. They took me in first for the procedure today because we got there early and the woman who was supposed to go first came in late.

4. A nurse I had today by the name of Cheryl.  First for her skill in getting my I.V. in after the other nurse failed.Second, when she was wheeling me into the procedure she said she wished me luck and prayers and told me that God is good. And lastly, after the procedure she came over to me and kissed my forehead when  I was told that everything went well and no evidence of cancer!

5. And because it deserves a line of it's own.. no evidence of cancer today!!!

6. How fast the procedure was and how I got home so early.

7. The look of relief and happiness on my husband's face.

8. The sound of relief and happiness in my mother's voice.

9. My comfortable lounge chair in my den. Perfect for post procedure napping.

10. My Grooveshark music site. I love that I can search for anything I want and have it in seconds. And I love my feel good music today!

Day 12 appreciation challenge

1. Sitting outside in the sun for awhile reading.

2. Finding my good tweezers.

3. A reassuring  phone call today.

4. Getting halfway through drinking my prep for tomorrow.

5. Kim re-faxing the report a second time.

6. Quick reply from the bank to straighten out a problem. All set!

7. Guilty pleasure TV. Sometimes a girl just has to zone out!

8. Figuring out what I needed today for comfort.

9. Easter cards from friends.

10. Wearing my husband 's hat like a security blanket today. l looked like the grandmother (Shelly Winters) from the Roseanne Show. It made me laugh, so I  kept it on.

Day 11 appreciation challenge

1. The cashier at Stop and Shop for encouraging me to take the time to get a new scan card. I have been putting it off for about a year.

2. Spending the afternoon with my mother.

3. Kris Carr's health information. I am armed with knowledge and will contact my doctor.

4. My son for consoling me when I was upset.

5. As much as it was hard to hear, feedback I received that made me realize I crossed a boundary.

6. The realization that I hyper focus on certain things. It stinks and I have to stop.

7. My 91 year old relative's smile today. She is having a tough run of it, but she is handling it with grace.

8. I was able to catch the glass measuring cup as it was falling and it did not break!

9. Being on the same page about an event as my friends.

10. Getting the bills paid tonight.

Day 10 appreciation challenge

1. I caught myself calling myself stupid today when I made a mistake. I quickly apologized to myself. (And I accepted my apology.) :-)

2. Triple A for coming to help out with a dead car battery.

3. Mediating in our new rocking chair.

4. Sharing with a friend that I was doing this challenge. I thought she would think it was silly. But she didn't.

5. A proud moment with my son on the phone today as he was sharing some plans with me.

6. Making my grandmother's chicken stimperata recipe.

7. Accepting some information that I have been resisting for a long time now. Somehow, the light bulb went off today. AHA!

8. The lighting in my room when I turn on the lamp I bought from IKEA. It makes me  happy every time I turn it on.

9. Treated myself today by ordering 3 books that I am so excited to read.
 Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Melton, Help, Wow, Thank You by Anne Lamott, and Rules of Inheritance by Claire Bidwell. Can not wait until they arrive.

10. Instagram. I love sharing and taking pictures.

Day 9 appreciation challenge

1. My husband did my laundry for me today.

2.  Great party for my friend tonight.

3 Everybody Loves Raymond show makes me laugh.

4. Good energy  level today.

5. How my cat snuggles with me on the couch.

6. A friend's honesty with me today.

7. Filling up my boat today on Hay day. (Obsessed with the damn game)

8. Feeling comfortable with new people I met tonight.

9. Finding out that there is a new documentary out about the Beatles fan club president and the history of the Beatles.

10. How well my hair is growing and filling in after 2 bouts of chemo.

Day 8 appreciation challenge

1. Thrift store find of an antique rocking chair and sweet ceramic bunny.

2. Figuring out that I can see OWN Super Soul Sunday past episodes on line. Watched Brene Brown talk about Daring Greatly. (Do not have OWN channel)

3. Phone call I received from a relative on an update  about my cousin's health emergency.

4. Listening to Mary Chapin Carpenter CD in the car on the way home.

5. No pressure tonight about being too tired go to an art opening.

6. Dr. showed me the correct way to put on the hand braces.

7. First time all week relaxing on couch.

8. The early invitation that arrived to a Christmas party in Dec.!

9. The second store I went to had the ingredient I needed.

10. A full tank of gas and a beautiful day to take a ride to the shoreline.

Day 7 appreciation challenge

1. The clerk at Whole Foods today was so knowledgeable  about chemicals in shampoos and  recommended  the cleaner ones to me.

2. A quick call back from the orthopedic office saying they will replace my hand brace and insurance will cover it!

3. The compliments tonight on my decor and goodies from my friends.

4. The snow did not accumulate today!

5. How my friend Nancy checks in with me every night.

6. We picked up a value package of prepared chicken Parmesan and linguine at Whole Foods and to my surprise there was enough for 2 nights!

7. Face Time with my sister from Saint Kitts.

8. Swapping books tonight with my friends.

9. My husband told me he enjoyed hearing me and my friends laughing all night!

10. The hum of the dishwasher at the day's end.

Day 6 appreciation challenge

1. The afternoon visit with my son and a heartfelt chat.

2. I was in the middle of baking and thought I was running  out of an ingredient and 2 people offered to go to the store for me. But it turned out I had enough!

3. Watching the sun rays come through a glass Easter bunny in my window.

4. Finding my misplaced telephone.

5. My knee was feeling and moving better during my session today.

6. Forgot to set my alarm, but woke up in time on my own.

7. My sister made it safely to her destination.

8. The new recipe I tried came out great.

9. I have everything I need for a stitch and bitch get together for tomorrow.

10. I found the perfect gift for my best friend's birthday.

Day 5 appreciation challenge

1. The technician I feel most comfortable with was on duty today for my mammogram. She made a long and nerve wracking appointment easier with her sensitivity and hugs! (Have to go back in 6 months to monitor calcification.)

2. Heard one of my favorite songs on the radio tonight. Welcome Back by Gillian Welsh. I consider it my theme song.

3. A long after noon nap.

4. A surprise email from a blogger friend!

5. My friends who wished me luck today.

6. The roads were good this morning after the storm so I did not need to reschedule my appointment.

7.  The confirmation that an important document was received.

8. I remembered to use a $4.00 off coupon at CVS today, the last day it is good.

9. The pharmacist who looked for an item I wanted even though he did not think they carried it.

10. The Long Island Medium is coming to a theater near us in May! Getting me some tickets!

Day 4 appreciation challenge

1. The spring bouquet of flowers in my window.

2. No cavities at the dentist today.

3. Dental cancellation so they were able to take me today.

4. Our accountant and his willingness to accommodate our schedule.

5. No lines at the grocery store the evening before a snow storm.

6. Getting my car washed.

7. The pot of chicken soup on the stove.

8. The insurance mix up was cleared up.

9. My mom was feeling better today.

10. Getting home from the store before it began snowing.

Day 3 Appreciation Challenge

1. Sleeping in this morning after a long restless night.

2. The set of stone wear dishes my mother gave me. A cheerful spring pattern, too.

3. The recipe for lemon cake my sister gave me so I can try it out on my friends.

4. The hot cup of tea I just made.

5. The long hot bath I took.

6. The red cardinal that visited outside my window today.

7. The idea to put my heart rock collection in the fair this fall.

8. Face time on the iPad with my youngest.

9. Call from my older sister before she leaves on vacation.

10. Time tonight to decorate the house for Easter.

Day 2 of Appreciation Challenge

My experience with art therapy led me to discover another visual arts technique called Soul Collage. (www.soulcollage.com). I am not artistic and found that I enjoyed collage making as  my preferred form of art therapy because it does not frustrate me. I took a class last spring and enjoyed it, but the class changed location and it was too far for me to feel comfortable driving at night. This winter I found a class on-line for Soul Collage geared specifically for people who were dealing with a life threatening illness. It was a great deal. Three classes on a conference call and it also utilized a website and a Facebook page. All calls were taped so that if you could not join live, you could listen at your convenience. I loved it so much. I am thinking of becoming a Soul Collage facilitator when I am feeling well enough to think about going back to work. There is a training coming up sometime in the fall and I have my eye on it. I still have to read the book and listen to some audio tapes that are prerequisites to the training. I am hoping as my energy increases so will my motivation! 

I am still enjoying the blog called Momastary.( momastery.com) Has anyone checked it out? Glennon Doyle inspires me on so many levels. She refers to herself as a shameless truth teller and hope spreader. She has about 60,00 plus followers now. Sometimes I am so moved by her posts that I read them over and over again. Last week I participated in my first LOVE FLASH MOB sponsored by Momastary (ww.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/love-flash-mob-by-momasterycom-helps-homeless-indianapolis-teen-mom-get-home-at-project-home-indy) It was awesome to be a part of something so inspiring and to be able to participate with just the click of the mouse. Technology just continues to amaze me. 

As you all may recall, my position at work was terminated while I was out on my medical leave. I miss the people there quite a bit. I went in a few weeks ago to clear out my office. The higher ups did not tell my co-workers that they eliminated my job, so it was a shock to them that I was not coming back to my full time position. It is OK, I do not take their actions personally. They were great to me through out my illness and well, business is business, and those directives come from the higher ups anyway! There may be some part time opportunities for me when I am ready. To be discussed when the time is right.

It was so wonderful to see my co-workers. I enjoyed about a million hugs. Some people just hugged me, no words. It was wonderful. I have been gone a long time and I had so many pulling for me and praying for me. I wanted to see them and show them that I am doing fine with my recovery. 

Day 2 of Appreciation Challenge:

 1. All my co-workers who prayed for me and supported me during my illness and still keep in touch!

2. My older son's humor. He is a riot and he had me roaring today.  I think he missed his calling as a comedy writer. 

3. My husband. He helped take care of my mom when she stayed with us for a couple of weeks after her surgery. It was touching to witness the kind things he did for her while still taking care of me! 

4. My friends. They are my safety net. They are there for me.

5. Disability insurance. When I got it, I had no idea that I would ever need it. 

6. My sisters. They came down to help out with my mother, too. 

7.The library. Since I am not working and money is tight, finding things to do to get out of the house is hard. But thanks to the library I have a place to go and come home with books that I have been wanting to read for a long time.

8.  Cooking. I cooked a delicious dinner tonight. Pineapple chicken with brown rice. Being able to cook again in my kitchen is something I will never take for granted.

9. My hairdresser. She found someone to come to my house to do my mom's hair just the way she likes it. It made her day. 

10. My cousin B. She is a nurse and has been my biggest support during my illness and beyond. 

Challenge

Here I am. I am here. I am doing the best that I can. I am still in a great deal of pain from residual side effects of the chemo on my joints and the neuropathy  in my hands and feet. I am wearing slings on both my hands to help with the pain from arthritis in my hands that became excessive after the chemo. BUT all of this is better than where I was. 

This month I have a mammogram and a colonoscopy to look forward to so they can be sure I am cancer free. It has been one year since my colon cancer diagnosis and two years for the breast. Hard to believe time went by so quickly.

To catch up with the MIL issues. It is official, she retook her driving test at age 92 and passed it. She now has her license back and there is nothing we can do. Her doctor was not opposed to her taking the test as he was sure she would not pass it. But to everyone's surprise she did. Now we have to back off and let it be. I can not worry about her because it will drive me crazy. They did not even give her any  restrictions. She is even allowed to drive interstate highways. And she will. She went into the test with a great deal of confidence and stayed focused and passed. It is out of our hands now. 

I am seeing my Feldenkrais practitioner (n.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldenkrais_Method ) for all the pain in my body. We work on pain control and range of motion issues. She is also a big believer of the law of attraction. She is the most knowledgeable person on this subject that I have ever met. We often talk about it during and after our sessions. She says she has had people coming to her for 10 years looking for miracle cures, but they don't ever seem to change the way they think so nothing changes in their bodies. I know I try to make those changes in my thought patterns, but it does not come easily for me. I can see that I am changing in many ways, but still want to make more permanent changes.

My practitioner talked to me today about taking a 30 day challenge. She asked me to write every day on my blog about 10 things that I appreciate. They need to be different every day. This is an exercise  to raise my vibration and be more positive in my thinking to make an impact on my body and my health.

So today is the day that I begin. It will feel good to be writing on my blog again. Since I am not working right now I have to find things that give me purpose and this will be perfect for me. 

So here I go... 10 things I appreciate today. 

1. All of my family. For. Everything.

2 My practitioner. She has been a huge support to me before and during my illness. I always feel good after a session; from the work that we do to the conversations we have.

3 My blog readers. You all have been so supportive and caring. I can not tell you what it has meant to me.

4. Music. I do not know what I would do with out it. Inspiration all around.

5. My health. Even though things have been challenging, I do appreciate the things that are going well.

6. All the bloggers out there that tell their stories. We belong to each other.

7. Art therapy. The hospital offers it for free and it has been a huge means of support for me as well as a great creative outlet.

8. The drive my husband and I took to the beach tonight after our diner at our favorite fish restaurant.

9. How my husband helped me with the car today and I made it to my appointment right on time.

10. The sensitivity of my youngest son.  He suggested a song that he thought was a good one for a mother and son dance at his wedding in the fall.  I cried when I listened to it. It is called I'll Catch You. By the Get Up Kids. It is so emo. Like me.

Don't worry I'll catch you. Don't. ever. worry.