Mindfulness is Part of my Battle Armor

I've been asked repeatedly how I handle the present traumatic physical and financial aspects of my life without crashing into an overwhelming depression. 

First, I don't believe any of this is permanent. Like a current of water, it can change for the better.

I have also practiced meditation and mindfulness for years. My practice is even stronger now, and mindfulness carries me through many painful and or stressful situations.

A trendy word to many, mindfulness is not hard to establish in your life, if interested.

How?

Thich Nhat Hahn, a Zen Buddhist monk I greatly respect, explains it best.

'Take the time to eat an orange in mindfulness. 

If you eat an orange in forgetfulness, caught in your anxiety and sorrow, the orange is not really there. But if you bring your mind and body together to produce true presence, you can see that the orange is a miracle. 

Peel the orange. 

Smell the fruit. See the orange blossoms in the orange, and the rain and the sun that have gone through the orange blossoms. The orange tree has taken several months to bring this wonder to you. 

Put a section in your mouth, close your mouth mindfully, and with mindfulness feel the juice coming out of the orange. Taste the sweetness. 

Do you have the time to do so? 

If you think you don't have time to eat an orange like this, what are you using that time for? 

Are you using your time to worry, or using your time to live?'

In short, I chose to live.

Wouldn't you?

Comments

Post Chemo Comic Consequences

My chemo sessions stopped eight months ago. Yet, my brain still gets fuzzy. Not that that is all bad sometimes. I might continue to blame that therapy, not my aging brain, for my forgetfulness in finding my house key, knowing my phone number or blanking out on someone's name whom I just met minutes before. Thankfully, my nails returned to their healthy status. My eyebrows and lashes again accept gobs of mascara. My hair while sparse and patchy in the first post chemo weeks filled in nicely when someone suggested organic peppermint shampoo. One lesson learned was in lieu of the shampoo do not rinse with organic peppermint tea. My baby fuzz turned a light green hue, months prior to St. Patrick's Day. Game changer came once the shampoo revved up my abused hair follicles. So what's the problem, you might ask? Really, its sheer vanity. Its not the coloring. Already mostly gray, it is now a brilliant white that shines constantly. No, its the curls. Kn...

Worry wart?

Worry, nervousness, apprehension or uneasiness - regardless of the word used the emotion surfaces in all cancer patients. It should as our bodies are assaulted through the disease itself, the treatments and/or those treatments' "side effects." However, if you are just centered on it and expect me to send you emojis depicting hugs and kisses - forget it. As is well-documented worrying is not beneficial to your fight. It lowers your immune system. Don't need that, especially if you're on an immunotherapy regime. It negatively affects your short term memory. Hello, hasn't chemo screwed enough with your mind? Premature coronary artery disease heightens Cancer already offers chances to hurt your heart. Why better the odds? This is not like a horse race where the odds play in your favor. Instead, fi nd something constructive to do. Garden, tap dance, take up the harmonica or just sit in yo...

immunotherapy-patient-summit-new-york-city

Interested in immunotherapy? This FREE event is being held in NYC in September. This year it will be held at 550 Fifth Ave, making it much easier to get to from Grand Central of Penn Stations. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cri--tickets-56049008092?invite=&err=29&referrer=&discount=&affiliate=&eventpassword=

Cancer is only part of my journey

Search This Blog