Last night in a brightly lit meeting room in the Hilton Hotel in Fort Collins, CO, I entered a new life. Women, thriving women, who faced or are facing breast cancer were called together to be “models” in the October 23rd event of “Hope Lives.”  The mission of Hope Lives Breast Cancer Support Center, founded in 2001 by Lydia Dody, is to “Support and Strengthen those touched by Breast Cancer by providing Care, Guidance & Education” at no cost.

Sitting in the room surrounded by Women Who THRIVE I felt their compassion and authentic caring.  Going through their experiences of multiple surgeries for many, chemotherapy and radiation had deepened their being. They reached out to me a newbie, telling me “Call me, anytime. I mean ANYTIME. If you need to cry or talk or ask if something is normal or not – truly ANYTIME.” Others shared, “You will feel a tiredness you have never felt before, you cannot describe. Do not fight it. Go with it.”

I have heard sports players like Michael Jordon comment that when they play with superior players, it raises the level of their own playing. Others talk of the impact of being with great people. I felt that each of us in that room was contributing to the vibrancy of the others. We raised each other up. It was a glorious experience of resonance – a field of heightened energy. I left with a strong feeling of loving connectedness.
Thank You ALL!

These were my thoughts as I walked the canyon this morning.

Thanks, Judith, for a lovely walk this morning. As we were walking today I thought of the beautiful variety of skills and talents we each have. Often I think we take our talents and skills for granted. They are EASY for us! Indeed, they are easy BECAUSE they are our talents.

“The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world.
There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor.
But that does not lessen our possible impact,
for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along;
people who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents.
Someone who will live a happier life merely because
we took the time to share what we had to give.
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,
a smile, a kind word a listening ear, an honest compliment,
or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around.
It’s overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are
to make our love felt.”
— Leo Buscaglia

Thank you, Annette Martin and Gloria Keener, my dear neighbors for your kindness today. Your efforts in helping me move stacks of magazines out of my office will allow me to place new books where they belong. It may not seem much to you, but to me, it is a GREAT help. Thank you, both, for your acts of caring. 

The cool morning breeze embraced us as we walked the canyon’s hills and valleys this morning. As I contemplated my upcoming chemotherapy, beginning August 5th, administered every 3 weeks and lasting for 6 cycles if I can tolerate it, followed by 6 weeks of daily radiation, I wonder what will I experience? What will the “malaise” they describe as the worse flu you ever had, really be like for me?

In my walking meditation I imagined swimming with dolphins, playing with them, rolling over their backs in all directions. I breathed in the clear water to clear my body of whatever needed to be cleared out. I hope I can keep this strong optimism when I feel weak and depleted.

Fortunately, I do know there is a place where ALL IS WELL and I intend to dwell there throughout the process of chemotherapy and radiation. What new dimensions of being will I discover?

Thank all of you for your continued and loving support. Thanks, my dear husband, Stu, for accompanying me today on my walk and in my musings.

HAVE you got a brook in your little heart,
Where bashful flowers blow,
And blushing birds go down to drink,
And shadows tremble so?

And nobody, knows, so still it flows,
That any brook is there;
And yet your little draught of life
Is daily drunken there.

Then look out for the little brook in March,
When the rivers overflow,
And the snows come hurrying from the hills,
And the bridges often go.

And later, in August it may be,
When the meadows parching lie,
Beware, lest this little brook of life
Some burning noon go dry!

Emily Dickenson

What an incredible GALA of the Colorado Women of Influence (CWOI)!  The event honored Women of Vision and what an incredible group of women they were. Ann Clarke, Founder of CWOI certainly knows how to put on a BIG event that honors others. SHE deserves honor for her risk taking in founding this group, her insight in making this organization referral only and her incredible ability to pick those who stand out because of their passion and courage. THANK YOU, Ann, for an incredible event.

I was honored to be among the 22 Women of Vision honored last night and surprised at being named “The International Woman of Vision.” Read about the women honored, they are an impressive group AND are in Northern Colorado. Read about them http://gr8ideasatwork.com/MeetourWomenofVision.aspx. Overall winners were kept secret until the Gala. I will post their information shortly.

Indeed, these women did say “YES” to life! I salute you all! AND I salute those that helped Ann make this event extraordinary, as well! Ann could not have done this alone. Also I want to thank the sponsors who supported the event for their understanding of the power of tribute!

Walking to the fast pace of Toronto but not being caught up in it. I am aware how much the pace of a city, of our environment can influence the pace of our lives. Yet, without time to BE, to reflect on life’s happenings, to deliberate about decisions and choices, we can become automatons – simply responding to what is done to us but not initiating from our inner world.

Take Time

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to worship, it is the highway to reverence.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to look around; it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh; it is the music of the soul.

Old English Prayer