No More Negativity

“Don’t go to the funeral before the funeral.” I listened to Valerie Harper say this as the news was reflecting today on her battle with lung and brain cancer, and it made me realize I have already packed my bags and am headed toward the funeral. I like how Valerie and Olivia Newton John and Joan Lunden and Shannen Dougherty and Julia Louise Dreyfus and Alex Trebek have gone public with their battles. They have handled their battles with such grace that it it is inspirational. They, and all the cancer patients I have known, say the same thing: Live in the present, live each day fully, and live one day at a time. I need to remember this. It is just so darned easy to get caught up in life, which is the point of living, but I need to slow it down and work on some self care. I don’t want to rush and take for granted however long I get. My aunt seemed to know I needed this and sent me some resources on mindfulness and self care. Can’t wait to delve into it. I need a little attitude adjustment and need to stop looking to the future, as I have my whole life; I’m a dreamer. And things are about to get busy with just living as school is starting back tomorrow! So, I really need to make sure I take time for a little self care, which will help me have a more positive attitude about this diagnosis.

I love the saying: “Don’t cry because it is over; smile because it happened.” I have this sign hanging in my bathroom. I had a hard time moving away from Key West, and it was a reminder to myself to just be grateful I had the experience. Now when I look at the sign, it reminds me to smile because my life happened, and it is STILL HAPPENING. So, I need to stop crying and start living again. Same but different, Mr. Sears, my math teacher in 11th grade was always saying. I never understood how that related to math 🙄, but I understand how it relates to life. I will be living a little differently now, again, but I am still living all the same. No more feeling sorry for myself. I can’t waste any more of these days with negative thoughts in my head when I feel so good still. I am unpacking my funeral bags and am staying for a while.