I started writing a blog about this special day and then decided to scrap it for something less intense. It kinda said everything that's already
been said about survivorship so I thought it best to not reinvent the wheel.Here's what being a survivor is really like, in my world anyway!
1. This. Just after diagnosis I felt exactly like this.
2. Enjoying the "glass half full" with having implants: I am completely buoyant in the water and will NEVER drown (see #1), no matter how much I don't try to stay afloat. I can single-boobedly save an entire family from a capsized ferry!
3. Picturing everyone I know with no hair. It's true. When you go bald, it's all you see. A bunch of cue balls! And you know what? People are more attractive with no hair. No. Joke!
4. Saying "yes" to the things that make me happy and "no" to the things that don't.
5. Forgetting everything. My kids' names, where I left my keys, what did I eat for supper 5 minutes
ago?6. Taking great care to shave my underarms because I now have this canyon between my foobs and my pits. It's a thing you have to see to really understand but no, I'm not posting a pic.
7. Enjoying the little things in life; like watching my kids play, waiting at the bus stop, and even cleaning the house. Cuz I can.
8. Not feeling guilty about ordering Peapod to deliver my groceries
, even with my able body. Life is just too damn short to waste time lugging groceries on a nice day. (So I'm blogging instead!)9. Unfriending people on Facebook because they complain too much about nonsense and how hard their lives are.
10. Friending perfect strangers on FB because they are in the same life boat as me and I feel like I've known them forever.
11. Freedom. Being a survivor for me means freedom. That is what good health is. Freedom to do what I want when I want. It's freedom to let go of the past, look forward to the future and ride this wave, no matter where it takes me. And because I'm so damn buoyant now (see #2), I can go ANYWHERE and be safe.
God bless all the survivors out there. You are not alone! And God bless all of the doctors, nurses
and caregivers who help all of us survivors every day. We would not be here without you all. Having cancer sucked but I'm proud to be a survivor among many great survivors who are not just surviving, but thriving. Peace and love to you all!
