View Full Version : optimism
rebeccaC
03-05-2017, 08:40 AM
Haven’t posted since the beginning of the year because of health issues. Learned a lot the last two months about determination and faith…..AND that bicycling has some wonderful psychological/mood benefits (especially on days of unremitting fatigue from chemo)….and that it gives needed mental and physical strength in going through treatments! My riding now is so different from just a couple of months ago, certainly no climbing feasts. The riding I can do, even when slow and not far, does give me a way of feeling some control over my body despite what treatments are putting it through. It also gives me the strength of feeling some freedom from the effects of treatments and especially gives me a determination that helps on the journey of getting back to normal and my life back on track.
…..SO.…still feeling blessed when riding!!!!...or to quote NWG... “At times, it can be so uplifting that I have stopped, raised my arms to the sky and said a prayer of gratitude and thanks.”
Over the few years I’ve participated in this forum I’ve bookmarked a few posts from some of you wonderful women who have written about your positive mindset in dealing with challenges, health or otherwise. I’ve re-read those posts a few times the last couple of months, including just before writing this post. This post is done in wanting to say thanks for those words!! Sometimes you never realize when or how your words can help others in a good way. Perhaps that’s another good reason to want to use our words (and actions) more often in a caring and positive way!!!
“Optimism is the faith that leads to hope, determination and confidence. Breast cancer is so limited…..it cannot affect my giving/feeling love, it cannot diminish hope, it cannot silence courage, it cannot conquer my spirit and it cannot corrode my faith…..”
My only time on the internet now is about my photography (creativity being a needed and valuable distraction). I’ll be back here interacting and forever posting ride photos :) when I’ve recovered more and have these unwelcome vicissitudes of life in the past pages of my writing journal. Strength of spirit and grace ftw…..
Luv from Venice Beach
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/657/33111823422_dfbbffa084_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/SrYKvh)
All bicyclists are family….
Rebecca, I'd been wondering where you'd gotten to, so sorry to hear about the health crisis, you're a strong young woman both mentally and physically so I think you will kick it's *** nicely. Sending you loads of warm healing energy.
Catrin
03-05-2017, 12:10 PM
Thank you for checking in, and sending you healing energy and hugs as you deal with this health crisis.
shootingstar
03-05-2017, 12:31 PM
Hope the chemo is for a certain period only! Wishing you energy, creative inspiration.
By the way, we went to Dijon in France last fall. Since you know France, but unsure you know this part: https://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2017/02/21/small-and-suave-dijon-lures-with-charm-and-wonder/
wnyrider
03-05-2017, 04:26 PM
I have gotten so much from your photos Rebecca. Joy, peace, humor, inspiration... too many to count. Please keep 'em coming! It may be therapeutic for you, but it also has healing powers for some of us : )
salsabike
03-05-2017, 07:54 PM
You are one of my role models, kiddo, in the choices you make about how to see and interact with the world. I thank you for that and appreciate it no end.
You are one of my role models, kiddo, in the choices you make about how to see and interact with the world. I thank you for that and appreciate it no end.
I agree with salsabike here. I'm not here much these days, but I've noticed and appreciated your mindful and positive view of the world at all times. I'm sorry to hear that you have this added challenge to shoulder, and wish you strength and peace of mind to deal with it all.
emily_in_nc
03-06-2017, 04:07 AM
I have missed your beautiful ride photos, Rebecca. So sorry to hear that you are having to go through chemo. Adding to the chorus here, I wish you good health and peace as you go through the process of getting there. I hope that this crisis will be short-lived and that you will soon be back to doing all that you love most.
Crankin
03-06-2017, 05:26 AM
Good luck in completing your treatment.
ny biker
03-06-2017, 07:54 AM
Thank you so much for posting, Rebecca. You have been missed of late. Best wishes for your treatment.
You have given strength to many of us in the past. We're here for you anytime you need us.
BikeDutchess
03-06-2017, 07:12 PM
So good to see you post this, Rebecca. Glad to see that your photography and (still limited, but surely more to come) bicycling are helping to carry you through. I'm continuing to send positive energy in your direction, and look forward to one day riding and photographing with you!
rebeccaC
03-08-2017, 08:21 AM
a heartfelt thanks to all........
Prayers for a quick recovery. Your love, strength is reflected in all your adventures and pics you have posted !!
rebeccaC
03-26-2017, 12:38 AM
Alex and I are signing up for the Tour de Pink in Oct. It starts here and goes north for three days on roads I know well. Gives me a positive focus on the future that feels good to have even if I end up not doing all of it.
This journey has given me a couple of new friends that are going through the same things and that is making me feel blessed and helps me in finding meaning in my own experience. We are also helping each other find strategies to deal with the stress, sadness, fear…actually the wide range of emotions, which are normal responses to this…and which also helps in giving positive results to our psychological well-being. Having the always-present supportive nature of Alex is also a wonderful blessing.
Wishing I could share ride reports now with you wonderful women but that’s still a ways off as my surgery is coming up. I do want you to know again, with my heartfelt gratitude, how appreciated your past words in this thread are to me.
And last but certainly not least…thank you Lynn….
Scars are tattoos with better stories :)
So good to hear from and I'm so happy you have people around you to share your journey.
rebeccaC
07-07-2017, 12:21 PM
a belated thanks Pax!!
To add an ending to this thread…..i’m finally just about done with my initial surgeries and treatments!! I still have probably a number of years of targeted therapy though. Life changing is how I would describe this experience, although what this has put me through has strengthened me in many ways. Early on, this journey helped to give me a perspective that I didn’t always have and I do not plan to waste it. I now try to always look at every moment as a blessing and although in the back of my mind the C-word will always be looming, I truly believe that I am here on this earth for a reason that is much bigger than me and I plan to keep moving forward down that road in hopes that I truly can make a positive difference in this world. This journey has reinforced the benefits of looking for positive strategies when dealing with doubt and fear, accepting and embracing a life changing event and coming to a peaceful acceptance of whatever comes.
“She laughs without fear of the future” ..Proverbs
I’m very grateful to have the science background that helps in understanding the struggle going on inside my body and in all the learning I have to do to help my body fight as hard as I’m capable of. The caring nature of a medical team that always encouraged and welcomed me into any discussion and gave me some new friends too was also a blessing…. I’m keeping part of that team for a while because they are also part of the new team that will concentrate on further testing and getting my strength and endurance back. One of my motivations/goals on this journey has been wanting to ride Washington’s North Cascade highway in a day again….that may be just a dream but it feels like a good one to have. I WILL however proudly ride as far I can in the Tour de Pink in Oct. as a way of giving my appreciation and support to the survivor community!!
To anyone facing this…. I’d say seek out productive, life-enhancing experiences, accept yourself for who you are and spend time with positive people who affirm who you are, how you've chosen to deal with the cancer and who through inspiration and positive challenges make you a better person. Sometimes you just have to take it day-by-day, sometimes moment-by-moment….stay as strong and positive as possible in the fight. You can find people on the path through this, especially in the support community, that you never would have met otherwise and who will be true treasures in your life. You can also get to know yourself and your emotions a lot better. Surprise yourself with the strength of spirit you can reach. Use the way you are creative to give a place to go to when side effects, doubt, fear or depression seem like difficult obstacles. Any activity that you enjoy and requires focus and concentration helps. The medative movements of Qigong have helped me a lot, especially in reaching a peaceful healing state. My Aikido sensei has been a source of strong support even though I had to give that training up at the beginning of this.
“Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer.”
~ Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido
If someone comes across this thread in a search for breast cancer please read {this wonderful long thread} (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=45493) on this site. It starts with a mammogram appointment and is the journey of a compassionate, smart and thoughtful woman...and thanks to the other survivors whose thoughts inspired me and are part of this post.
For all women, when you feel a lump in your breast or underarm do not let the things that scare you about it keep you from insisting upon getting it looked at right away so that you can be 100 percent certain that it really is ‘no big deal'....early detection is life saving!!!!!
I feel sooooooo blessed to have Alex in my life. She was especially emotionally vulnerable because she had recently lost a close friend to breast cancer and was still dealing with those feelings just before I was diagnosed. Working together we have reached a deeper appreciation for all the good in our lives and each other. That is truly the best blessing to come out of this. Soon we are going to be with just each other, with no outside distractions, on the northern ca coast before I go back to full time work….looking forward to it.
I’ll end with these thoughts. No matter what it is that you are faced with in your lifetime or how hard it is for you and the ones who love you, it is still in your power to see the light in even the darkest of times and to accept the gifts that come from even the hardest and scariest of situations. We all have the ability to be who we want to be in this world. I am thankful that cancer gave me the wisdom to see and embrace the power in those thoughts.
“have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills you with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern for others”… Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
be the light….
emily_in_nc
07-07-2017, 03:11 PM
Thank you for a beautiful post, Rebecca! It couldn't have come at a better time for me, as my step-father, who has been in failing health for awhile, just had an spinal MRI that revealed a growth of some sort on one side of his spine (in addition to the vertebrae fracture we knew about). He will have a biopsy very soon, and we are all very scared and nervous. Your attitude is inspiration to me!
Wishing you good health going forward...
rebeccaC
07-07-2017, 05:14 PM
You’re there and that’s important. It can be something that’s certainly hard to go through. In my support group I’ve seen the being overwhelmed by the depth and intensity of the feelings that family members can go through. Alex, my mother and I have had some long discussions about it that helped all of us. Even though he may not be there yet, perhaps talking to someone in hospice care can help with the feelings you’re dealing with. Hoping you and others involved can find some measure of peace in all of it Emily....you've been in my thoughts since you first wrote about going there to help ……and thanks for the good health wish.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.2 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.