Newest Update
I had a follow-up appointment with my Oncologist today. She examined me and drew my blood. Everything looks great! All of my blood cell levels are where they should be and I have no complications from the chemotherapy or radiation. She said I can have my left breast mastectomy any time I want and I can go see when it is time to get the right breast expander taken out and replaced with the permanent implant. I am to start on the Tamoxifen as soon as possible, in order to reduce the odds of cancer returning.
With the economy the way it is, it is a surprise that my counseling business is doing so well. But, I would suppose that with everyone getting anxious that tensions are rising in the homes. Because we are so busy and I am healthy enough to work all I want at the office, I will work for a few more months until I get the right breast done. I will use this time to my advantage.
And now for a really inspiring story I would like to share:
Each Day is a Gift
by author unknown
The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I LOVE IT!" she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room yet... just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away, just for this time in my life."
She went on to explain, "Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank. I am still depositing."
And with a smile, she said:
"Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less. "
With the economy the way it is, it is a surprise that my counseling business is doing so well. But, I would suppose that with everyone getting anxious that tensions are rising in the homes. Because we are so busy and I am healthy enough to work all I want at the office, I will work for a few more months until I get the right breast done. I will use this time to my advantage.
And now for a really inspiring story I would like to share:
Each Day is a Gift
by author unknown
The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.
As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. "I LOVE IT!" she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room yet... just wait."
"That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away, just for this time in my life."
She went on to explain, "Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank. I am still depositing."
And with a smile, she said:
"Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less. "
Congratulations, Julie!
And I really like the story of the woman who decides each day to be happy. My mantra is simply, "I love" -- it works great to bring a smile to my face. Whatever I happen to be doing or looking at when I say it becomes something that I appreciate.
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Thanks, that's a great way to be. I love it!
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Hi, Julie-
I am a sophomore Psychology Major at Stanford University. I am currently writing a research paper investigating the role that optimism plays in the recovery to illness. Part of the project entails surveying and analyzing existing literature on the topic, but the another part involves speaking with someone who has had personal experience with the issue. After reviewing your web site, I feel as though your strength and courage is so tremendously admirable, and this kind of mentality needs to be made more available to the world. I am wondering if you would be at all interested in allowing me to email you some questions about your firsthand experience. If not, that's completely understandable. If you would be interested in sharing a little bit of your journey with me, how you stay positive, etc... (it probably won't take longer than about 15-20 minutes for you to do), then please email me at: Sfidel@stanford.edu.
Either way, happy thoughts are being sent your way!
Thank you,
Shaya Fidel
Stanford, 2011
Psychology Major
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I've heard this story before about the old lady and "happiness". It's one of my favourites! I didn't know you had a second mastectomy but I'm glad you did to prevent cancer from reoccurring. You are a very brave person Julie! Heal well.
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