Tonight I attended my first Cancer Support meeting. It was very enlightening listening to other peoples experiences with cancer and their different forms of treatment. While many of us shared similar experiences, we also had many differences. With those differences, tonight, at times, I felt rather alone. It appeared to me that the others have come to terms with what they have been through or are going through. Others are currently going through treatments and trying to survive. Even one woman living in fear of wondering will she ever relapse. It's truly amazing how our experiences and even our thoughts are so similar but yet so different. Even with those similarities, I still felt so alone. Do we all feel this way?
I am definitely going to continue to attend the meetings. I created new bonds and hopefully, established new friendships. I felt empowered by the words of others. And even knowing each of us has had our own unique experience with the disease, we all share a commonality. We will forever be tied to one another even after this one meeting. There is acceptance, no one is right and no one is wrong, there is no judgment. We are who we are.
At the conclusion of the meeting, I was really impacted by what one woman brought to my attention. We were familiar with each other due to common acquaintances and, after the meeting, she motioned for me to speak with her after. When I approached her, she showed me a list she made that she titled "10 of Deanna's Many Blessings" which were as follows:
1. Mom - gave me life and brought me into this world
2. Dad - also contributed in me being here
3. Husband - stay committed & never abandoned
4. Son
5. Daughter
6. Financially Ok
7. Great Dr.'s
8. Cancer (Then/Now/Later)...what it meant then and the strides in treatment now and what it could mean in the future
9. Brain - Intellect, Absorb, Learn, etc
10. Love of Many
I was very impacted by what she had given me. It was one of the greatest gifts ever. I will forever keep that piece of paper that she jotted this list on. In fact, I may even frame it. Because it is a reminder of what is truly important and the many blessings I have in my life, that even fear can not erase. So I thank her with all of my heart. I was truly touched.
Hopefully, this will give you something to think about. When in a moment of reflection, what things or who would be in your top 10 of your many blessings??? Write them down and when you are having a moment of weakness or feeling down emotionally, pull out that list. It's amazing how uplifting it can be. :)
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