Surviving cancer. It alters so much about who you are: your values, your hopes, your mindset, and your ambitions. You become acutely aware of what truly matters in life, and perhaps, not surprisingly, the things you once placed value on and gave all your energy and time to, were not the things of importance. My son was 12 months…
Thyroid Cancer
I remember when I was younger – much younger – I could not imagine what my life would be like when I reached adulthood. I simply couldn’t envision any aspect of my life. I didn’t imagine the house, the career, the family … I was just me. I was whimsical. I was living in the moment, and following my passions…
Of late I have felt restless. Restless in my marriage, restless in parenting, restless in my everyday life. Just restless. I cannot calm my mind and I cannot calm my body. At times I feel as though I am suppressing something. Then I realize that something is me. There are so many conditions that surround marriage and parenting. With…
Surviving breast cancer has it’s own set of challenges, hurdles, and set-backs. Your body has changed. Your mindset is altered. Your courage is challenged, almost daily, because you can never truly let go of the fear and the angst. You learn to function with it always being present. You learn to control it. You re-teach yourself how to live in…
In 1994 I was given the opportunity to study musical theatre performance at a prestigious theatre school in New York City, in lieu of attending a university here in Canada. With my parents’ blessing, I chose New York. I was 19 years old and very hungry for life; to make something of myself; to express my creative voice; and to…
Fear can really mess with your emotions. It can toy with your hopes, play with your thoughts, and manipulate your mind. Today, fear took control of me – my thoughts, my actions, and basically my better judgement. And for this I am angry. I am angry because I gave fear the power to mess with my mind; and I am…
My heart is bursting with emotions – of sadness, nostalgia, pride, excitement, happiness, and loneliness. Last night I couldn’t settle my mind. My sleep was disjointed and fraught with dreams that I cannot remember, but simply feel the haziness of their presence around me. Why am I so unsettled? Why am I feeling so lonely? Why am I worried? …
And so it is a New Year. For many it is a time of reflection: What do I wish for myself? For my family? For the world? What accomplishments made in the previous year can I be proud of? Did I reach my goals? Did I keep my resolutions? What about my life, has changed for the better? What do…
As the new year slowly approaches I can’t help but feel overwhelmed with emotion. I remember this time one year ago; the fragility I felt both emotionally and physically post breast cancer treatment. I was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude [for being alive], love, vulnerability, and fear. My body was healing, but the mastectomy compromised some of my muscles and…
Tis the season to be lonely. Yes. It’s true. The Christmas season, albeit merry and bright for some, can also be isolating and lonely for others. I know that I have been feeling lonely, despite all the people that rally around me on a daily basis. I still feel very lonely. I’m not sure if it is the Christmas season that…