Embrace Your Inner Bee

So today the family was getting ready to go to work and school. My daughter strolls through the kitchen in a Batgirl costume...with jeans.
This popped into my mind....

Blind Melon No Rain

So what is a mother to do?
Do I squash her spirit?

No...I let her "embrace her inner bee."

I will find out later if that was a good idea or not.

It did get me thinking though...if I could just "embrace my inner bee" what would I do today?

B

John Connors and GaGa!

I found this lovely mash up in my google reader. I was trying to think of a post to go with my favorite book:

1000 Awesome Things


My Awesome thing today was finding a video that made me laugh. I know, small potatoes but I am consciously going to try and collect my own list of awesome.

What "awesome" thing happened to you today?

Unitl Next Time...

It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.....

I remember growing up with Mr. Rogers.
That guy had the best job ever.

SO...What can we learn from Mr. Rogers?

1. Keep your closets organized. You are more likely to wear sweaters you can find.
2. Support local businesses. If you need a cake, walk over to see Chef Brocket don't drive across town to visit a supermarket.
3. Fill your day with music. What song would you like to start your day with?
4. Play. Keep up with your childhood passions. If you want to color...color.
5. Don't yell. If you talk softly, most people will listen to your concerns.

Have a great day in your neighborhood!

B

Snain Snain ...Go Away!

This week we had...SNAIN...

You know snow and rain...equals SNAIN.

The first impulse was to get angry. How dare those weather gods?

I snuggled up with my laptop and soon realized that the data gods were also impeding my plans.

The more I read, the angrier I got. Nothing new...or nothing exciting...blah.

SO, I decided to take an internet diet on Sunday. I went and cleaned up my son's room. For some reason, it felt better to clean and therefore cleanse my thoughts too.

Seth Godin makes a good point in today's article.

"Twice as much email, twice as many friend requests, twice as many sites to check, twice as many devices."-Seth Godin

Information and even a lack of new information can be overwhelming.

I think by going on an internet diet, I was able to focus on the day, the task, the moment. Balance is key...

Thanks for listening,

B

Home Makeover Health Edition

Anyone who has lived through a mass renovation or mass tumor...knows how your world can be turned upside down.

Why not start with a new paint color and then add new this and that?

Lately, or more precisely since my remission, I have been focusing on my health.

I have tried mass "body" renovations , ie. quitting unhealthy habits cold turkey.

This rarely works. Why? A framework of healthy choices need to be built in over time. Allowing your body, lifestyle and family to adjust.

Recently, this book 8 Weeks to Optimal Health by Andrew Weil,
has provided great inspiration to begin with small changes.

This week it has been daily walks and tea after lunch instead of coffee.

While this might seem lame, it is working. I have discovered that little changes have fit in nicely...

So consider, Baby Steps, next time you decide to change it up!

Living for Tumor-morrow

Hi All,
I am back. Consistent...I know..just like a weed.

Well. Today I saw an article on "Mindful Writing", I would like to expand on that.

How about? "Mindful Living".

I am no expert on dying, but living...pretty good.

I have:

1) Fallen down the stairs in my walker (18 months old)
2) Poisoned (age 2)
3) Drowned in a pond (4 years old)
4) Fell off a 10 foot stand at a ...get this...wheelchair basketball game...do you sense the irony?
5) Had Cancer but was a Libra. (What's with that?)

SO I do realize that life is in peril constantly and I am in no control at all!

But seriously, we need balance people!

What is with the oversecheduling of our kids and ourselves? I am not alone in this. Check out Geek Dad.

I have said no to scheduled "fun" and replaced it with enriched family time.

What do we do on weeknights and weekends?

1) Visit parks.

2) Have a weeknight picnic.

3) GO on a family date night to the leisure center (pool).

4) Watch a movie.

5) Go to the farmer's market.

6) Craft up a storm.

7) Go on bike rides and long walks.(in the community or explore your own city)

8) Ask your kids, "What would you like to do?" (This did backfire once. My daughter asked if there were Mermaid classes to become a Mermaid.)

9) Sign them up for short periods of activity. (ie Art classes, 5 saturdays, 90 minutes). Notice there are not weekend Art tournaments...

10) Develop life skills such as swimming, golf, skiing and self-defence arts.

As my husband said...
Kids remember moments...we need to create moments not schedules.

Until Next time...

If I Ate Dirt Would I Be Less Anxious...

Well...close...

According to this article If You Want Smart Youngsters Let Them Dig in the Dirt , digging in the dirt provides contact with a natural anixety reducing drug.

"The researchers say we've become so urbanized we risk losing a connection with an organism in nature that may actually be beneficial to humans."

So does what does this mean for us. It means, instead of reading this post at your desk, perhaps kick off those pumps, shoes and socks and enjoy the post running your toes through the dirt. Turn all Shrek like and roll in it...if you must...or check out this book.

I Love Dirt!: 52 Activities to Help You and Your Kids Discover the Wonders of Nature By Jennifer Ward (Author),
Enjoy!

Hodgkin's Lymphoma With the Stars! Great New Show!

Video: Charlie Tells Kristen About His Disease

True story...most patients with Hodgkin's Lymphoma are men. This didn't help me but in a way it makes me feel "special".

Here is the List of the Hodgkin Lymphoma All Stars!

1. Dexter! - Michael C. Hall the actor rather than the character had cancer. But a serial killer with Cancer is "interesting".

2. Ethan Zohn from Survivor.

3. D.J. Qualls - The skinny actor from Road Trip. He has also appeared on Lost and Breaking Bad.

4. Mario Lemiuex - The former Captain and now owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

5. Tracey Nelson - daughter of Ricky Nelson and niece of Mark Harmon (NCIS).

6. Barry Watson - Seventh Heaven

7. "Charlie"- Matthew Fox's character from Party of Five. OK...another true story...this character had cancer the same time as me. I had to watch commercials where at times he was not doing well...lovely....But Charlie and I pulled through.

8. Me - A.K.A. the girl with the sense of tumor.

I don't think this new show will metastasize, but hey at least we are all still here!

Sharks Don't Get Cancer! And This Helps...How?

I was perusing the dead and dying section of my neighborhood library, circa 1998. Not a lot of hope to be found.

"Got Cancer? Sucks to be YOU"

"Found a Lump? Too bad Chump!"

"So You Are Having Chemo...Ask for it Shakened Not Stirred"

Okay I made those titles up...shocker...I know...

But there was one book that did stand out, not dismal like the rest,

"Sharks Don't Get Cancer"

I stared at it. Ok..so was I supposed to find this "finny" or something?

Truth be told, Cancer was not as "in" back then. Sort of...in the closet.

Now there are runs, walks, bracelets and colored blenders.

My biggest peeve was that I was a walking healthy cancer patient wanting to scream

NOT EVERYONE DIES!!!!

Here is my chance.

Ever since my recovery I have wanted to make the best life possible.

I have two kids, post cancer, they only side effect is that they glow in the dark..
no..not really...but can you imagine how wicked that would have been.

I am a district educational consultant that loves presenting to the throngs or small groups of people.

However, I have lost my artistic way. I hope to recapture the "art" of my youth.

Truth be told, I want to achieve the following:

1. Go to the oscars. (as a nominee...not sure in what capacity)
2. Publish a great work of fiction or nonfiction.
3. Move to a country house with a huge veranda and knit on it like an old lady. (I do knit...with chopsticks if necessary).
4. Travel the world presenting and inspiring.
5. Watch my kids achieve their dreams.
6. Witness my husband become a thriving full-time artist.
7. Have my own show with my Mom. (talk, tv...who ever will have it)
8. Teach writing full-time...all ages.
9. Have a store or space that looks like the one from the "Ghost Whisperer", Season one.
10. Turn education on its head...for the better.

What’s More Depressing Than Watching the Titanic? Watching While Newly Diagnosed With Cancer…True Story

I think life can be divided in parts.

B.K. Before Kids A.K. After Kids…

For me, it's B.C. Before Cancer and A.D. After Da tumor!

In 1998 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I was 22, just married…nearly buried…

To celebrate I went to see Titanic; nothing more uplifting than to watch a boat sink.

But to be honest, I only cried twice; the day I was diagnosed and the other when I discovered I was Stage IV…AKA "end of the line"

My hair was supposed to fall out…it didn't.

I was supposed to be nauseous…I wasn't.

I was supposed to lose weight…sadly no.

Chemo-Sabe? My sense of tumor got me through.

The experience has made me stronger.

ŸI hate wasting time.

ŸI don't think everything needs to be SO serious and…

Ÿ I seek balance in all that I do.

With this blog I hope to inspire until you perspire. I hope that my observations on mind, body, and spirit sync with yours.

In all honesty, I want to make you learn, laugh and love.