Today I want to celebrate a remarkable lady. Her name was Margaret Anne Hall. Annie. She was my Little Grandma. I got to know my Little Grandma during her own fight against cancer. I was young and impressionable, and in the time that she lived with us, she taught me many lessons. She taught me how to iron and…
Kindness
It is autumn, and we are in full swing of the season – wet, dismal days and cold, bitter winds – but today is simply a beautiful one. The air is crisp and clean, the sun is sparkling, and the sky is radiating a brilliant autumn-day blue. Yes, it is still cold and bitter, but everything about this day feels…
This summer by the river at the cottage – a place of healing and serenity – I was fortunate enough to have a heart-to-heart with a very special person. She is someone I cherish who has traversed her own breast cancer journey. She understood my fatigue, my adversities, and the side-effects, because she too experienced her own, and she gently…
I did not survive breast cancer so that I could become a victim to road rage… There are far too many incidents and too many shared stories about reckless drivers disobeying the rules of the road. The rules are basic. Adhere to the speed limit. Obey stop lights. Come to a complete stop at a stop sign. Check your…
I find myself in a restless place of reflection. Today is the 17th Anniversary of 9/11. A day that most people around the world will never forget – especially North Americans. Terrorist attacks, war, large-scale violence – these were all things reported about from the other side of the world, but not something you expected to witness in peaceful North…
In January of this year, I was approached by The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (PMCF) requesting if they could use my story as their feature for the spring mailing campaign. They outlined the requirements and provided details regarding the mailing. I was apprehensive. Sharing my story through blogging and online videos allowed some anonymity – sounds strange to say –…
Knockers… and I do not mean door knockers. I mean knockers. One of the challenges I have faced since my mastectomy is finding bras and breast forms to fit my tiny structure and my even tinier bust. It took trying various brands, different sizes, and many different styles before I finally found a [silicone] breast form that fit me…
In my previous post Riding the Waves I touched on my overwhelming feelings of loneliness, and my personal struggle in finding that magical ‘Christmas Spirit’. Well, I have ridden the waves and am currently in a pool of calm and serenity. It is an unfamiliar feeling for me, and I’m very grateful to be experiencing this sense of peacefulness. I attribute…
‘What are we holding on to Sam?’ ‘That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.’ – J.R.R Tolkien This is the opening quote of Meik Wiking’s newest publication The Little Book of Lykke. I’ve been enjoying his previous book The Little Book of Hygge, which shares the Danish concept of everyday happiness and encourages…
I sat down today with the full intention of writing something prolific. I was sure that my words could inspire, enlighten, and resonate with my audience. I was excited to share, but as I began to write I swiftly realized that my thoughts remain fractured, and fraught with frustration and angst. I am completely exhausted from the demands of these…