What's your story? We all tend to hang on every word of others stories thinking they are bigger and juicier then ours..... that somehow their life story is more significant and that the trials they have been through are more important for some reason..... What makes them any different then us.... the difference is that they have realized that their story IS important... they may have learned the lesson or lessons.... they realize that by sharing it... maybe just maybe... they can help prevent it happening to someone else, or help others see that it's ok and look what they have done with their lives... therefore inspire.....
I woke up this morning thinking that I am one blessed girl.... and did my usual morning prayer to my maker in the shower... only today I focused on being grateful for the stories that are being shared with me.....yesterday was my big first day out..... to the POWE Markham meeting..... since I am still pooping out early, getting short of breath and shaky I need to conserve energy and not be my typical bouncy self.... but... that didn't stop me from participating and meeting new connections..... hugs from familiar faces...... nice.... just nice.....
Michelle Peavy was our speaker... and how POWErful it was.... she shared her story in metaphors.... how at 29 she was on the ride of her life and bam... cervical cancer hit.... after treatments she got back on track and got busier with her life and her work.... and SPLAT... again.... her cancer came back.... and her best friend had a stroke and went into diabetic shock and lost her eye site.... caring for her she was even more determined to live her life and it happened one more time.... her Mack Truck hit (in the words of Stefanie Antunes, in the book Power of Women United) hit hard when her 2nd best friend was in a major car accident and paralyzed.... she has gone on to live her passion of singing and telling her story so that other women may learn and stop the Mack Truck at a big red stop sign before it crashes into them..... (Michelle is signing at the POWE Gala on April 29th... you really must see her!)
Her story is very similar to mine and it made me weepy..... it made me see how important it is for me to share this....... gave me an even deeper conviction in knowing that I was chosen for this... maybe not to cure breast cancer or cervical cancer but to share insights into prevention.... to share my story.. the full story and use what I can to inspire others....
I was up getting some lunch when a woman says she wants to chat with me... she reads my blog... and she sits at my table... in a flash of a second she tells me she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and then goes on networking.... I am amazed by her smile and her just participating in the reason why she came that day.... Later on we chat.... she tells me her story, how she was diagnosed with DCIS - breast cancer in the ducts.. which is a good one to get.... how they are doing a mastectomy - wow why..... then she tells me her mother had breast cancer and had a lumpectomy years ago and she has a cousin who had it as well.... now this cousin is a doctor and decided to have the mastectomy.... does she have the gene... she is being tested later on... but I honour her today.... Marlene is a woman of courage..... a woman of substance..... and a woman trying to save her life...... she has chosen to have a double mastectomy.... preservation and prevention..... I feel the calmness from her, she hasn't yet determined what this is all about and is searching for a sign... what is the lesson here... what is she supposed to do with this after... she's not making any plans for after yet... she is collecting her thoughts.. looking to regain her health.... waiting to hear her course of treatment....
Wow.... bravery lives in Marlene!!!! I am touched that she shares her story with me....... surgery.... in 2 weeks.... Marlene we will pray for you....
I am more determined then ever to share this little light of mine..... actually, it's a great big bright white light that now glows with iridescent pink.... I too have been chosen to live an extraordinary life.... I have always felt passionate about one thing or another... a pair of shoes... jewelry.... my business.... my kids.... and I still do but knowing today that there is a significance to each and every thing I went through.... that it is just not ordinary to have have a birth of your son and in the same year be diagnosed with cervical displasia (beginnings of cervical cancer) at 26... have 11 minor surgeries and treatments in that one year, to have a full blown hysterectomy at 27.... to less then 2 years later have your gall bladder removed..... to suffer with endometriosis so severe that you end up in hospital because the pressure of an ultrasound is too much... to end up having that last sacred ovary out at 36 to send you into full blown menopause and on HRT... way before your time... to struggle with these female issues that women my age don't.... only to go onto find that lump in my breast.... whew.... and for me... the entire time I was so very busy trying to prove my worth to the world and to everyone else that I neglected my fragile health that was hanging by a thread... ignoring signs all along.... dodging bullets... working my butt off harder then I did the day before..... not eating well... not sleeping well... wait working more...... taking on too many projects at once... not really being affective at any in my own eyes..... needing to give more and do more then any other human woman.... weakening my armour..... because I had so much to prove..... to whom????? Well, you and then me of course....
My story is significant.... my life is juicy..... my gifts are tremendous..... what I do with it all... I have been given this life, this journey to live.......share.... and truly be the change I want to see in my world going forward... inspire others to motivate themselves to first take care of their health..... to treat themselves better then they would their best friend... to slow down and head the yeild signs..... and to live their great big juicy life..... what's your story????
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