Body care and life is a BIG job with lots of work

Well Guys and Gals- It has been snowing- 11 years ago we had a blizzard too and Madison had her Bat mitzvah. It was another unpleasant experience. But today she cleared the driveway and sidewalk nearest to the house and cleared off all the cars. Not an easy chore for her. Hard physical labor while cold it not her cup of tea. So now she is napping. I put a down comforter on her bed today and she is all cozy. Janet did the back path to her house for me. 

I just took a warm bath and covered my "toy " with a plastic bag so it would not get wet--- It should torture me in about an hour or so.  My house is finally in order (bills are next)

I am ready to rest after I finish my body care. Your know our human bodies require a lot of work to be properly maintained and cared for- Brush teeth, rinse mouth Floss teeth, shape and pluck eyebrows, moisture face in the morning, moisturize face in the evening, keep hands and feet properly moisture too. Cut toenails, cut and shape fingernails, Lotion on body. Take vitamins, keep up with routine blood work. Get enough sun to process Vitamin D but not too much to get skin cancer. Once a year in stirrups, once a year Mammography, every 5 years colonoscopy. Yearly dental X-rays, teeth cleaned. Drink water, get enough sleep and rest. Exercise daily if possible and at least 3 times a week. Strengthen your core. Do cardio. Keep muscles mass good. Lower body fat ratio. Avoid sugar, Avoid bad fats. Eat good fats. No preservatives or GMOs. Stick with natural like God and Mother nature made- Nutrient dense. Fruits and Vegetables. Nothing white. Get enough berries, use high quality extra virgin olive oil. Wash hair but not too often. Uses conditioner. Do not pull just fluff. Cleanse face. Tone face. Use sunscreen that won't clog pores. OMG- I think I want to retire just so I can keep up with my bodily functions- did I mention to make sure I am eliminating daily. Juicing is good, Fiber is good- don't drink juice though from the store full of sugar. Cows milk is out. Almond milk is in- Get unsweetened. Drink green tea.   

And go to work; meet your friends for dinner. Keep a clean and organized home, Cook daily and especially on weekends- Food shop at more than one store. Empty the trash. Make sure house smells good. Feed the cats- empty cat litter. Play with cats so they know they are loved. Send out birthday cards. Call friends and chat to keep up with them. Tell family you love them. Plan and go on vacation. Do weekend getaways. Make time to visit with friends and family even when not a holiday. Be involved with book clubs or volunteer and be part of professional and social groups. Attend services for religious purposes. Sit and spend time with adult children and listen. Validate them and listen so more. Do not offer suggestions unless asked. Stay informed with politics especially with national and local elections.  Know your geography. Learn to use the Internet and all that it entails. Clean out your inbox almost daily before you get overwhelmed. Do that at home and at work. Return all phone calls. Make sure you get some "me" time alone. Have a good cry. 

Moments of reflection, the evening of chemo #2 and night and sweet dreams

Busy evening. I have preparing for the storm. No not the snow silly. The pain, being uncomfortable and a little suffering. This time is expected to possibly be a little worse. More type of side effects with greater intensively. I would have liked to have read "For Dummies: How to Prepare to have Chemotherapy Treatment for Breast Cancer ". 

So tonight I have been preparing to not be available to function for a few days and nights. I had to go through my food cabinets and make room for real food in my kitchen. I reorganized my pantry which meant I needed to make room elsewhere near the kitchen for stuff.  It is important to get extremely organized before getting sick. The world outside of me needs to be easy accessible to me. Almost planning to be temporarily disabled. Or maybe it is the same you do before you go on a long vacation. Getting your home organized, make your return as pleasant as possible. Take of bills in advance. Change all the linens. Figure out how to handle,trash, mail etc. I did not plan well to experience temporary disability. Wow. What a great concept. "This too shall pass".

It would have been lovely if once upon a time I knew that my despair and panic would fall into the category of "this too shall pass". It would have been wonderful if I could have know "this too shall pass" when the only route out of my suffering was to go away. Exit. Escape. Leave. I must find a way. I cannot take more of this. How the hell can I do this. I was alone in my head with all my emotions. Very dangerous place for anyone to be. 

My experience with cancer has been greatly influenced by my experience with my clinical depression. Sad that this great outlook that I am sharing, was built on the heart and soul of my depression. What a horrible way to develop such a positive attitude. In that light, my experience with Phil and his addiction helped prepare me too. Everything I learned in 12 step programs changed my life for the better for my entire life. Totally changed the trajectory of my life. God loved me so much he sent a wonderful man who was also an addict who wanted to be with me very badly for some unknown never disclosed reason. ( I was.... well, let's say,  when Phil meet me, I was - very attractive and very needy and FUN, of course).  A "Wicked" combination. 

If I did not know better. I would say that maybe everything in life happens for a reason even when we have no clue of what that could possibly be. We take what we are given and do our best and then let go. I  believe my friends and family aka, guys and gals, that is simply what faith is. Faith is the willingness to embrace acceptance that not one single human being is running the whole big show, it is, in fact, beyond any one of us, there is no safety and we are free to chose to surrender to a higher power without proof and complete understanding of those mysteries. YEP--- sounds like faith to me.

You are deeply loved by your creator and me.

Always, with an open heart,

Nancy