Tag: desmoid tumors

Optimism and Hope

teter2

Happy New Year! On NYE 2022, at a local restaurant, a couple walked up to me and reintroduced themselves – we worked on a community project 25 years ago. Cancer survivors themselves, they told me they enjoyed reading my essays in the Health section of the Philadelphia Inquirer (for new readers, mine was FAP with a side syndrome of desmoid tumors). What?  They asked when I might resume writing – I’d taken a hiatus most of 2022. That’s all the inspiration I needed. Due to my health journey, I have connections to groups of people that the average person does not. I’m seeing so much positivity in this new year.  And support. Positive support is critical to healing and a happy soul.  It is so easy to pass along a kind word or smile. Could I be highly alert to the passing of time and the merits of optimism having faced a real possibility of no time – yes. I also know from my family that I’m annoyingly optimistic and I’m damn proud of that!  I’m not saying that I don’t have down days. Sometimes I just roll with and embrace the melancholy for a short amount of time.  Then I force myself to put on those big girl boots and literally walk.  Fresh air and Mother Nature are quite the healer.  Sometimes I call a friend. This photo is named Optimism and Hope. Although geared up for the walk, still they stare and press noses to the door, anticipating the journey. My hope for the new year is that we give and receive kind words and smiles daily.  Let me know what you’re seeing out there or if I can be a friend to help lift you out of a funk.  Peace to each of you.

Take Care of You

teter2

Happy 2022! I took a hiatus from writing and found I missed it enormously. The holidays, ya know. I dove into the season head first, 110% excited that my daughters from opposite coasts would be home together with their PA sister. I started my hiatus in early November attending a gorgeous wedding, reveling in love and life and so much dancing! Celebrated my husband’s 65 birthday at the happiest place in the world with a fun and rowdy group of loved ones. And skid into the Christmas season happy and content. Come January, the house quiet once again, I felt a little deflated, started thinking too much about my health and desmoid tumors – yep went down that damn rabbit hole. The pity party lasted a day. I dusted off my pickleball paddle, tuned up my skis, grabbed the dogs’ leashes, and took off to take care of me, determined to get some exercise everyday. I had a January reset- a trendy term these days but accurate in my case. Although I’m still and probably will always take oral chemo, I can’t let the lethargy keep me down. I listen to my body- rest when my body demands it; eat the foods that lift me, physically and spiritually (some foods are just that good!); as well juice daily with a recipe to keep inflammation down. And, most important, I move everyday that I can! This reset is probably a smart life-style choice for most people- healthy as well as cancer survivors. It’s simple – take care of you! And if you sense a friend needs a lift, be the one to reach out. Trust me, it’ll be time so very well spent.