Nature and Nurture
Just checking in! Nothing much to write about because I am doing and feeling so great! I am back to just living, something I haven’t done wholeheartedly since April 28, 2015, the day I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I just got back from a quick, four-day trip to Ohio with a friend from high school. We met there to go … birdwatching. Those of you who know me know this is something I would NEVER have agreed to do. I have always been deathly afraid of birds after a childhood trauma with a mama bird who was defending her babies. UGH! And for the record — I wasn’t even near her nest! But I wanted to spend some much-needed girl time with my friend, so I agreed to meet her in Magee Marsh. And, to be honest, it was an amazing experience and just what the doctor ordered. We saw more than 70 species of birds of all sizes and colors. I was better at identifying the snakes and mammals. Everyone had their eyes in the skies and the trees, while mine were more in the water and on the ground looking for creatures. At one point, we were on a boardwalk where three women were standing talking and birding with their binoculars and long lenses pointed up in the sky. I had to point out a raccoon in a tree directly in front of them. They were interested for a minute and then turned back to the sky, and I was like: Did you SEE the RACCOON in the TREE?!?!?!? I thought it was pretty cool, as were the deer, turkeys, muskrat, beaver, bunnies, groundhogs and snapping turtle we came across on the trip.
To me, there’s nothing like being out in nature to soothe the soul and heal whatever is ailing you, mentally or physically. The beach scene is ideal, but I’ve always appreciated woods and lakes, anything that gets me out in nature. Wordsworth is my favorite poet because he wrote about the inspiration of nature. My quick trip to Ohio was the thing I needed to refresh. I didn’t even realize how much I needed to get away from everything for a bit and spend time in nature. My friend and I spent from eight-thirty in the morning till seven in the evening out in different habitats and environments, walking all day. The weather was perfect – cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. I found myself again on all those boardwalks. For so long, I’ve been a cancer patient. But being a recent empty nester and off treatment now, I needed to find myself and what I need and want out of life again. I was so used to not envisioning a future for myself because of my terminal cancer. But what I don’t want for the next six to nine months until my next scan is to think about cancer. I don’t want to worry about when and where it will come back. I don’t want to worry about how much time I might have left. I just want to live. So, nothing really to update on today. Just wanted to write to check in and say that I’m doing great. I’m living, doing, dreaming, and not afraid to live right now. I’ve been given a HUGE blessing by getting a chemo break, and I’m sooooo grateful every day. I’m so happy it’s summer and I can get outside to remind myself to live and trust and create. I’m thankful and grateful for life and for those who gave their lives for us as we observe Memorial Day on Monday. I hope you all have a nice long weekend – go get out in nature, in the sunshine, and enjoy time with your family and friends because that’s what life is all about.