Thinking Pink for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I am reprinting an excerpt from “The gift of cancer” from The Cancer Center website.

You may encounter the phrase, “The gift of cancer.” It may take some time, but you may come to see it this way, too.

Every crisis contains the seed of opportunity. Open your spirit as you would open the earth to plant a flower’s seed. Give yourself permission. If you will allow yourself, you can find beauty in any beast, even cancer.

Your journey to these remarkable resources requires no suitcase or ticket. The only prerequisite is an openness of spirit - an attitude that seeks to find blessings in adversity. Prepare to be filled with faith and interior joy. Always seek the light: the darkness will dissipate. By being mindful of the present moment, you likely will discover a totally different world filled with abundance.

“Inhale peace; exhale despair.” “Breathe in hope; blow out fear.” “Inhale healing; exhale disease.” “Breathe in love; blow out turmoil.” Mindful meditations. Sensory awareness. Healing touch.

Let yourself be open to the love that is waiting to surround you. Love is everywhere...waiting to be tapped. Don’t be afraid to tell those close to you how much you love them. Chances are they need to hear those words as much as you need to say them. Likely, you will be astonished at the extent of your support system. Now is not a time for isolation. Express your feelings like you never have before. Always remember: hugs are wonderful healing tools. Allow relationships to strengthen and deepen. Let yourself be open to the love that is waiting to surround you. Love is everywhere...waiting to be tapped. Don’t be afraid to tell those close to you how much you love them. Chances are they need to hear those words as much as you need to say them. Likely, you will be astonished at the extent of your support system. Now is not a time for isolation. Express your feelings like you never have before. Always remember: hugs are wonderful healing tools. Allow relationships to strengthen and deepen.

Recognition and acceptance of death as a natural transition of life will likely come to you sooner than most. Yes, confronting your own mortality is uncomfortable. But you must. The gift of cancer can bring a sense of peace and serenity that few know. After you have dealt with the possibility of dying, you are freed to savor the reality of living.

Live, laugh, love as though your life depended on it - it does. Wiggle your toes in a carpet of grass. Be open to the romance of life. Laugh a lot. Cry when you feel like it. Let the child in you emerge. Talk about your dreams, your fears, your expectations. Take time to listen. Discover your source of peace and strength. Spend time there. Touch and be touched.

In the end, it’s love. Cherish yourself and others. Find joy in everyday experiences. Allow yourself peace. Embrace each day.
Carpe diem!

Perfect Virture

To be able under all circumstances to practice five things

constitutes perfect virtue;

these five things are

gravity,

generosity of soul,

sincerity,

earnestness and

kindness.

- Confucius

Love - Mother Teresa Style

Do not think that love,

in order to be genuine,

has to be extraordinary.

What we need is to love

without getting tired.

- Mother Teresa

What Is It To Succeed?

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty;

to find the best in others;

to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;

to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded.

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Light of Wisdom

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth,
so virtue appears from good deeds, and
wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind.

To walk safely through the maze of human life,
one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.

- Buddha

Ocean of Life

Absolute calm is not the law of ocean. And it is the same with the ocean of life.

- Mahatma Gandhi

Your Ship Will Come In

In this beautiful life, there's always some sorrow,
and it's a double edged knife, but there's always tomorrow.
It's up to you now if you sink or swim, just keep the faith and your ship will come in ...

- Great Big Sea

Learning to Fly

“When you have come to the edge of all the light you have

And step into the darkness of the unknown

Believe that one of the two will happen to you

Either you'll find something solid to stand on

Or you'll be taught how to fly!”

- Richard Bach

Free Will

Life is like a game of cards.
The hand that is dealt you represents determinism;
the way you play it is free will.

- Jawaharal Nehru

Don't Waste Precious Time

Death is a challenge.

It tells us not to waste time...

It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other.

- Leo Buscaglia

Seeking the Gift in Adversity

There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.
You seek problems because you need their gifts.

― Richard Bach, Illusions

Throw off the bowlines

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

— Mark Twain