June was challenging. I slept walked through most of it, working hard at keeping emotions, memories, and phantom sensations at bay. Seven years since diagnosis. Seven years since multiple mammograms, ultrasounds, scans, blood work, biopsies, and a mastectomy all in a span of 22 days. And my journey has not ended. The healing begins after the trauma. And healing takes…
Crystal Joy
I am a dreamer. I am an artist. I am an adventure-seeker. I am a storyteller. I am a wife. I am a mommy. I am a cancer survivor. My name is Crystal Joy Hall. Share in my journey at crystaljoyhall.com.
And so we find ourselves near the end – the end of the school year, the end of grade 3, the end of primary level. This month signifies a great shift in our home. As I sleep-walk through this month, overwhelmed with the memories of mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, an MRI, blood and genetic testing, as well as a mastectomy, all…
Last June I composed a list of six – six natural deodorants I have personally tried since my breast cancer diagnosis, where I highlighted the pros and cons of each deodorant in hopes to share some insight. You can view that list in my post Hot Time Sweating in the City . However, a year has since passed. I no…
Cancer. It is a foreboding word. When spoken aloud, the word cancer can elicit an array of powerful emotions – shock, dread, fear, isolation, loneliness, terror, panic, anger, sadness, anguish… Cancer. I remember vividly, the multitude of overwhelming emotions I felt when I knew the radiologist found cancer in my breast. I remember the icy sensation that seeped through my…
I love using essential oils – drops of frankincense oil mixed with whipped organic shea butter as a topical ointment has provided me with relief from swelling caused by lymphedema; lavender oil mixed in a carrier oil and rubbed on my pressure points eases my anxiety as do drops of lavender oil in my diffuser to induce relaxation and calm;…
It has been awhile since I’ve written a post about parenting – more accurately – parenting through a milestone. And so, with that in mind, I thought I would share three fun facts about the age of eight going on pre-teen. Fun Fact #1 – It’s all about Style. My son has always personified favourite characters. In grade 1 it…
In previous blog posts I have talked a lot about how journaling has always kept me grounded. It gives me a safe place to express intense emotions/thoughts/anxieties without judgment. Expressing my thoughts on paper helps to centre me, calm me, and allow me to reflect on my current life and life situations; and to find gratitude within the mess of…
I have not written of late. I have been struggling with content. It isn’t because I am at a loss for stories to share. It is just that my stories all seem so small compared to those from the dramatic turn of world events. I am struggling to comprehend, to process, and to express all that I am feeling in…
Today is Valentine’s Day. Seventeen years ago, on this day, I went on a date that altered my life forever… I know I am – somewhat – plagiarizing previous work from my post 25 Reasons Why I Love You. However, three years have passed since I penned that blog post and since that time, a pandemic overtook the world. We…
It is exactly three years to the day since I penned my blog post Cloudy, reflecting upon my physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. And here I am, three years later, finding myself in that similar state. Cloudy – all around and within me feels cloudy. I feel scattered, anxious, and irritable; and I struggle to maintain focus, clarity, and patience….