Meditation

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:30-31

Life is a Gift

Each moment of your life is a gift. Learn to relish it. Learn to be in it. Even during your tough times, take a moment to breathe, ground yourself and become present and in the moment. There is much more to your life experiences than you realize. Be aware of your living, the possibilities for discovery, and the appreciation of your connection with humanity.

Watch your words…

Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about. If you keep saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job. If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick. If you keep saying you can't stand your car, your car could be stolen or just stop operating. If you keep saying you're broke, guess what? You'll always be broke. If you keep saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt and betray you. If you keep saying you can't find a job, you will remain unemployed. If you keep saying you can't find someone to love you or believe in you, your very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs. If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you might end up with it. Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power-packed with faith, expectation, love, and action. Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve. Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. Watch how your circumstances and situations begin to change when you change the way you speak. The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settle for. The tongue can be your worst enemy!

Assessing

Having a disease like ovarian cancer provides an opportunity to assess one’s life. It also affords an opportunity to think about one’s relationship with God. I grew-up a Southern Baptist, but being told you have ovarian cancer put new meaning into those prayers and rituals that can sometimes become customary. Someone once asked me to explain to them how I could believe in God. As I sat thinking hey that’s not something I could or can do. If you’re looking for the logic in belief, it’s not there, but I do know that God cares for me and that He has a good place awaiting me when it’s time to go. I credit Him, my medical care givers, and my own stubbornness for my survival of disease. I truly believe that this cancer journey/war has been a blessing. I have been blessed with more friends than I realized that I had. They have provided visits, phone calls, cards, prayers, and undeniable love. My biggest supporter has been my husband of 14 years, Erik. He has been with me every step of the way from connecting up my IVs, driving me here and there, and pushing me at times when I had no will. All of this has not been without a few choice words from both of us, but no one has been privileged to have more love than I have. When I think about this four year cancer journey/war, I realize that even with the ups and downs, the surgeries, and the chemotherapy side effects, that I’ve gained many blessings out of this journey/war. This cancer journey/war is mine, no one else’s. I’ve fought it, I own it, and I’m going to keep fighting it as long as God allows me to do so.

“When I die, I will not be guilty of having left a generation of girls behind thinking that anyone can tend to their emotional health other than themselves.” Ntozake Shange [“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuff...” Writer, Playwright (1948- )]


RIP Phyllis Hyman

Life is a Gift!!

Each moment of your life is a gift. Learn to relish it. Learn to be in it. Even during your tough times, take a moment to breathe, ground yourself and become present and in the moment. There is much more to your life experiences than you realize. Be aware of your living, the possibilities for discovery, and the appreciation of your connection with humanity.  Oh and learn to eat cupcakes!!!!

Happy Memorial Day!!

 Giving honor, respect and thanks to all of those who have sacrificed and are sacrificing their lives every day! Remembering that Freedom isn’t free!!  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 KJV

Happy Mother's Day

My mother adopted me 44 years ago when I was 2days old. I am so glad she did. She was the most loving mother a person could have asked for and I would have chosen her for myself, had it been my choice! In 1982 my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and had her left breast removed she fought a courageous battle and seemed to be winning until 1992 when doctors told her the cancer had returned to her right breast. Again the battle was a hard one but she fought. Then in October of 1994 we learned that the cancer had metastasized to her lung there would be another battle but this time the outcome would be much different. My mother lost her battle with breast cancer on February 21, 1995 at the age of 63. I remember those days before she died asking GOD “Please don’t take her away from me, what will I do without her”. I am comforted to know that she is in a better place and no longer in pain and that someday I will be with her. It doesn’t take away the ache or the longing to pick up the phone and call her and hear her say “Hey chocolate drop”. As a teenager, I recall times I would roll my eyes at something she did or said and say “I hope I never do that”! Now every time I do or say something that reminds me of something she did or said I chuckle and remember her with a smile because now I’m proud of every piece of me that is like her.