We sat, she and I, at the long oak table facing the over-sized picture window that over looks the calming, healing sea, its white capped surf ceaselessly rolling in, and cleansing the sandy beach. Its cathartic rhythm peacefully lulls the soul as it recharges precious energies deep within our being.
She is a cancer survivor...and oh yes, I said survivor. Her journey with the disease has not been an easy one. Hardly. For over twelve years she has fought the inner silent enemy who's sole intent is to destroy her vital life force, claiming it as its own. Thus far it has failed. Why? Sitting back as an observer for these many years, the answer seems clear. Easy to diagnose. The vile disease has met its match with the competitive, determined, very being of the woman herself. It's not going to get her, she vows. Not now. Period.
She says it began with the initial visit with her doctor -- who although had diagnosed her with the cancers, did not inform her it was going to kill her. Never told her anything but hope that they could fight it, thereby giving her permission to live. And so she has.
Being a realistic person and not one to live in denial, she has made the decision not to allow the disease rule her life, and thus she has not. She has lived as normal a life as possible, thinking and doing, working and playing without internal rant and worry. Taking time out for necessary treatments through the years, she also gave herself the luxury of taking good care of herself -- emotionally, physically, and spiritually with her God, and the support of her family and many friends. She has lived in the present; stayed in the now by absorbing the moment, and doing, whatever it is she has wanted to do to enjoy her life.
She has not let cancer stop her from simply being, making a conscious choice of life over the prospect of death.
Scared? I'm sure she has her moments. It is natural to fear the unknown. But courage is initiated by both fear and determination. Fear brings out the best of us, as it propels us forward to fight the fight we never knew we had in us.
The power is in the imprint of the vow in our mind.
The power is in a determination that won't back down.
The power is in the intent -- the will.
The power is the mental fight that says no and means it.
It was Scarlet O'Hara who stood at the top of the hill overlooking the valley below, vowing as God was her witness, she would never be hungry again. So it is with this gal, her determined fist poking mightily into the air, as she claimed "I will survive this..... "
And I ask, how does one accurately translate that sort of determination and fight so that it can be understood?
She is a cancer survivor...and oh yes, I said survivor. Her journey with the disease has not been an easy one. Hardly. For over twelve years she has fought the inner silent enemy who's sole intent is to destroy her vital life force, claiming it as its own. Thus far it has failed. Why? Sitting back as an observer for these many years, the answer seems clear. Easy to diagnose. The vile disease has met its match with the competitive, determined, very being of the woman herself. It's not going to get her, she vows. Not now. Period.
She says it began with the initial visit with her doctor -- who although had diagnosed her with the cancers, did not inform her it was going to kill her. Never told her anything but hope that they could fight it, thereby giving her permission to live. And so she has.
Being a realistic person and not one to live in denial, she has made the decision not to allow the disease rule her life, and thus she has not. She has lived as normal a life as possible, thinking and doing, working and playing without internal rant and worry. Taking time out for necessary treatments through the years, she also gave herself the luxury of taking good care of herself -- emotionally, physically, and spiritually with her God, and the support of her family and many friends. She has lived in the present; stayed in the now by absorbing the moment, and doing, whatever it is she has wanted to do to enjoy her life.
She has not let cancer stop her from simply being, making a conscious choice of life over the prospect of death.
Scared? I'm sure she has her moments. It is natural to fear the unknown. But courage is initiated by both fear and determination. Fear brings out the best of us, as it propels us forward to fight the fight we never knew we had in us.
The power is in the imprint of the vow in our mind.
The power is in a determination that won't back down.
The power is in the intent -- the will.
The power is the mental fight that says no and means it.
It was Scarlet O'Hara who stood at the top of the hill overlooking the valley below, vowing as God was her witness, she would never be hungry again. So it is with this gal, her determined fist poking mightily into the air, as she claimed "I will survive this..... "
And I ask, how does one accurately translate that sort of determination and fight so that it can be understood?
RSS Feed