New Teacher

I’ve Been Assigned a New Teacher

And look… she comes with a workbook

I’m Sorry to Drop That On You

What do you say when you are told you have cancer? Well, my sister and I laughed about it after the inital downer that the sentence, “I have cancer” brings to a conversation. We both said that we’ve been expecting this our whole lives. Both parents, both grandmothers, all that time swimming in a river full of agriculture chemicals, not to mention my time around radioactive sources. I’m a very lucky person, but that’s a lot of risk factors.

Even so, I thought I dodged this one.

What I Know

I’ve had less than 24 hours to process this and I spent about 8 of those sleeping, so these are my initial thoughts.

All I know right now is:

• there is cancer in one of my breasts
• it was a cyst that was there before, but this time it looked “suspicious”, so they did a biopsy
• I have an appointment next week with an oncologist and a surgeon. I suspect surgery will be as soon as they are available

I don’t know:

• What stage it is. They figure that out in surgery.
• What treatments I’ll have.

My Plan

My plan is to keep on the spiritual path I’m on. I plan to continue to be grateful for all the blessings I have. I plan to keep living my life doing the things that bring me peace and joy. Get up in the morning, set my intentions for the day, and express my gratitude. Stretch. Eat breakfast and pay my milk tax to Jude.

Work, and enjoy the wonderful team of people that I work with. Learn new things. Try to make things easier and safer for other people. Get outside for a couple of walks. Spend lunch time with Jane.

After work, meditate and exercise. Keep rowing as often as I’m able. Spend my evenings and weekends with Jane.

These simple things bring me peace and happiness.

I’m happy because I’m grateful for my life, my health (even now), my work and coworkers, my relationship with Jane, my family and friends, and the beautiful world around us. A world that I’m as much a part of as the birds, and trees, and flowers, and sky.

Life is a Series of Experiences

This is an experience I’m going through. Perhaps rougher than many others, but it’s an experience. It’s a teacher. I’m going to learn some things, and like all learning, there will be times when it’s frustrating and uncomfortable.

I don’t want this experience, but not wanting it doesn’t change reality. So there’s no point dwelling on how I wish things were different.

I’ve seen hell, and that experience was a teacher too. And although I never wanted that, I wouldn’t have learned the things I learned in order to have a happy, peaceful life.

What Can You Do

• Don’t be afraid, and don’t treat me like I’m dying any faster than I was last week. I’m going to be here for awhile unless some other thing causes me to checkout early.

• I’m working with my body and spirit to heal. This isn’t a battle or a fight. My body does the best it can for me every day, and I try to honor that. So, please send that energy my way.

• I encourage you to spend time with yourself and your family. Spend the time to practice gratitude for all the things that matter in your life. Spend time on, and with the people who matter in your life. Your life will change so much for the better if you prioritize your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

• Be loving and kind as much, and as often as you are able.

What’s Next

We’ll see, but whatever it is, I plan to be, “…a hole in the flute the Christ’s breath moves through - listen to this music!”

• Life
• Health