"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."
~ Soren Kierkegaard
May we learn from the past, dwell in the present and look to the future with hope.
This is always my
intention. But I have to admit that, during the past few days, I've felt as if I've gone backward in a certain area, ie. reconstruction after breast cancer.
For new touchstone subscribers: in the past month I've had not one but two surgeries to replace the problematic implants that I received last year after a double mastectomy.
Jokingly, I've likened my
recent experience to playing the classic game, Candy Land. Remember the times you were past the ice cream floats, almost at the finish line, and you picked the candy heart card?
When you played that game as a child and that happened, did you want to cry, complain, quit playing, or something else? I'm guessing that most of us didn't say, "Great! I get to go back near the start and follow the trail all over
again!"
Along with working my funny bone, I'm trying to use my backbone of strength, wishbone of positive thinking and all my gifts now.
Yes, I'm again being restricted in many activities for months. I'll especially miss swimming for the next three months. But these additional surgeries had nothing to do with a recurrence of
cancer and for that I'm grateful.
Sometimes it seems as if we are starting over. But the path will be different each time and there are always things to learn.
Wherever you are on your life path today, please join me in accepting where you are and look for new discoveries, as I am.
Let's be
patient with ourselves and listen for wisdom's guidance.
Let's also send love and say prayers for all who have recurrences and are repeating treatments as well as for all people newly-diagnosed with disease. Let's remember and honor all our loved ones who have passed on too.
Amen,
Charlene
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