Unravel Cancer: Experiences with family battling cancer: Whiplash: A gift

16 January 2010

12:58 Whiplash: A gift

I'm finally on the mend, and feeling able to talk about my experience of this whiplash injury. It had been quite an intense time, so, I'll break up the posts into thought modules.

On the whole, the injury is bringing me a tremendous amount of awareness about my body. More & more, I'm seeing how much I am afraid to be present in my body. The habits of my survival from childhood are harder to break than I expected.

There have been several moments where I slid into "pity-party". But, what kept me hopeful & positive this week were two things I kept writing on my daily Gratitude List: "I don't have cancer", and "I have the full working use of all my limbs".

It reminded me, yet again, how lucky I am to not have to take Temodar once a week for 12 months. It reminded me that I haven't had any surgeries, or have had body parts radiated. It reminded me that I'm not quadriplegic. And, that with a fully functioning body, I have no excuse to whine. Not that my experience wasn't tough, but all in all wallowing does no good.

In fact, it reminded me that my family getting cancer is a gift, too. I wouldn't be where I am today, more emotionally stronger, more aware of the tricks my mind plays, more aware of my body, choosing to be happy every day.

Have to run out to hit the Farmer's Market before it closes, but I'll be back to report more on all these themes in the next day.

For now, I thank whoever is out there, Higher Power, God, Universe, Bob, Whatever, for a tremendously beautiful experience through body pain, discomfort, & awareness.

Forthcoming:

"Julie & Julia"

"Intensity"

"Sleepless in California"

"My Unproven Opinion"

Labels: body, gratitude, healing, love, self-help, whiplash

Breathe.

I'm a 30-something professional woman who's mother & brother were both diagnosed with Grade 3 Astrocytoma tumors within about a week of each other. My mother's tumor is in her brain, and my brother's tumor is in his spinal cord, causing him to lose feeling in his arms & legs. These writings are about my experiences dealing with them, coping, loving them, loving myself, and living my life knowing that they are both dying. I hope you find inspiration and courage from my writings to help you get through whatever is going on in your life.