Friendship Comes in All Colors

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. -Douglas Pagels

Sometimes just a diagnosis of an illness, breast cancer or not, can be isolating.  Think about it.  Any type of bad news can have this same affect on us ~ the death of a family member, friend, loved one, the diagnosis of our own disease or illness or that of a loved one ~ the death of a marriage, a friendship, a relationship ~ a change in a loved one (domestic violence, drugs, jail) ~ any heart stopping trauma usually is isolating to us at the time.  It’s up to us to see how much we let it affect us and what we do with those feelings.

It’s hard to reach out when you’re in that whirlwind of change.  The trauma many times cuts to our inner core, shakes up what we had thought we had control over and then leaves us as if we’d been thrown into a washing machine on high spin ~ only to be so dizzy by the news that we can only sit in the corner and watch the world go around.  It seems too hard to get up to move sometimes after this happens.  It’s simply mind-numbing no matter the situation.

And that’s where friendships begin and end.

It’s where the hand of friendship reaches out and doesn’t judge, but simply holds in it much love and comfort.  You don’t have to understand what’s going on with a friend in order to be a friend.  You just have to know when to listen, when to hug and when to hold hands.  It’s that simple and much appreciated!  For what you give out, you get back a hundred fold!  There’s no greater return on investment than true friendship!

So whether you need a friend or you can be a friend or both ~ today’s the day to be inspired ~ today’s your day to smile at someone else!  Wouldn’t it be nice to cast a bit of sunshine out to someone else today?  I know you can do it!  We are all here together to help each other to Shine On!  So get out your sparkle and let’s go!

I’m sending BIG HUGS, Happy Smiles and I’m holding my hand out to you!

Grasp my hand and let’s SOAR!

Shine On!

xo

All Aboard Pink Express

I love roses ~ heck, I love all flowers if the truth be told!  In fact, I have repeatedly told my hubby to not bother with flowers at my funeral because I make sure that now, while I”m living, that I have fresh flowers in my home that I can enjoy whenever I want.  It’s true!  And no, just for the record, I’m not dying anytime soon ~ at least that’s my plan and I’m sticking to it!  But truly, my own personal opinion is that if you enjoy flowers, you should enjoy them now while you’re breathing, smelling their fragrant aroma and enjoying the beauty of their petals!  I don’t want to see a ton of flowers at my funeral when I can’t see them except from Heaven (again, this is said in hope that I’m going there eventually as well! ) 🙂

But today, I’m presenting you with a bouquet of flowers ~ pink roses in honor of your warrior spirit in becoming a survivor.

Ugh, I’m sorry, but I dislike the word survivor ~ and the word warrior doesn’t do it for me either.  I like to think of myself as having endured breast cancer for to me, the word endure means that I didn’t like it, but I put up with it and I’m now so over it as well!  What do you think?

Diagnosed at age 34, I was not prepared to be a young mom who lost both of her breasts, although honestly, no matter what your age is, I don’t think any of us are prepared for the diagnosis of any disease, are we?  I specifically remember the breast surgeon when she was doing my needle biopsy which was December 26th, telling me, “I will be so surprised if this mass is breast cancer.  Don’t worry,” which I know she meant to be reassuring to me because I was squirming with the many needles that she’d given me.

So when her nurse called on New Year’s Eve at 11am asking for me to come in at 1pm and to bring my husband, I knew ~ this wasn’t going to be good news.  I remember hanging up the phone, my hands shaking uncontrollably and telling my husband.  I remember he bundled up our boys who were 1 and 3 yrs old off to his parents’ house ~ who cancelled their party that night and instead hosted our little family of 4 after the appointment for which I will always be grateful.

I can still see myself in her office, hubby at my side, hearing her tell us what she thought my future held:  lumpectomy, ACT chemo (the kind you lose your hair with), radiation and it was then that I heard that lonesome train whistle blow ~ Wooooo Woooooo ~ and the Pink Express roared into the station of my life!

Now the Daily Prompt today, “You have the choice to erase one incident from your past, as though it never happened. What would you erase and why?” and I guess my answer would be, “No, I wouldn’t erase getting diagnosed with breast cancer.”

You see, breast cancer changed me:  physically, mentally, emotionally and it changed my family, my friends and my loved ones.  It stamped its mark on my life in such an indelible way that I can’t go back now to that girl I was beforehand and I don’t want to believe it or not.  I’m not saying that I liked enduring cancer, oh no!  That’s not the point at all!  But breast cancer made me grow spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally ~ it changed the way I look at life and things and people and myself.  Instead of rushing about, I now take a moment to stop and smell those roses, smile at that stranger, reach out to touch someone else without fear of being different.  I found my healing touch which unless you’ve suffered, you truly can’t tap into that inner dark abyss and linger too long.  It is perhaps because we’ve suffered that we can more easily connect with others through empathy, understanding and kindness.  It is our willingness to dig deep into our souls to allow for the sunshine to spring forth into our daily lives.  It is the midnight, all alone in the darkness insomnia which allows us to deepen our human experience.  It is facing our mortality which reminds us to dance in the rain, look up at the sky and to be grateful for each precious moment we can treasure in our lives.  It is knowing that forgiveness is key and allowing the soul to rejoice in the littlest triumphs.  Breast cancer gave me the courage to speak up, to ask for what I needed and to receive it.

I wish I hadn’t endured all that I have, but if it is what I had to do in order to have the level of human understanding that I do now so that I can help others, well, then it was suffering well worth the price.

So I’m off to buy myself some flowers ~ you should too!

Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!

Shine On!

xo

Daily Prompt: Erasure You have the choice to erase one incident from your past, as though it never happened. What would you erase and why? http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/daily-prompt-erasure/

Today is Your Day to Twinkle Sparkle Glow and Shine

Today is Your Day to Twinkle Sparkle Glow Shine

Officially it’s January 1st, 2013, and with the dawn, a new year is heralded in today and officially closes the door on 2012….at least in my book.  I awoke this morning with the little ditty of Rabbit Rabbit in my head (and out my mouth) before my first sip of coffee.  I’m not taking any chances on the first day of the month AND new year!  Are you scratching your head and wondering why?  Here’s the answer!  https://misifusa.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/rabbit-rabbit/

In the meantime, I thought this was a great card to begin the new year with ~ Don’t you love the optimism of this card ~ it has the ability to make you smile and to increase your desire to continue to SHINE ON!  This is yet another year to shine for all of us!  Are you ready?  On your mark, get set and let’s Twinkle Sparkle Glow and Shine On this year!

It’s only a matter of attitude ~ a shift if you will ~ and like any habit, it’s one that you can acquire easily without much extra effort…you just have to remember that you are a shining star.  That’s it!

You shine on with your attitude, your words, your expressions and by being yourself!  Even the brightest stars may have days when we feel less than sparkly, but our light is always shining in our souls!  I would love to see us all twinkling, sparkling, glowing and shining this year!  Imagine if as a connected community we allowed our inner lights to blossom and ignite the lights in others!  We could be a fireball of enthusiastic bloggers who connect like the amazing twinkly lights of the New Year’s Ball in Times Square!  Imagine the world cheering us on as we descend next New Year’s Eve on a year filled with every type of shining moment imaginable!  Imagine the power of a community filled with love, light and individuals who’ve come together with enthusiasm, optimism and in inspiration!

So please join me this year as we travel on our Journey of Endurance ~

Igniting our inner stars to

Twinkle,

Sparkle,

Glow

and Shine On! 

Happy 2013!

xo

Seasons Change, Life Changes, You Change…

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

Nature’s peace will flow into you just as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you… while cares will drop off like leaves.

Well my friends, it’s almost the end of summer and I am hanging on to its vestiges with every fiber of my being.  I know most of us are already thinking in terms of fall since school has started but alas, the Fall Equinox officially begins on in the Northern Hemisphere on September 22, 10:49 A.M. EDT.   The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator.   From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop and the days start to get shorter than the nights.

My Dad passed away on June 21st which was the first day of summer which was his favorite season so I guess moving into fall would be just another first to add to our collection.  We’ve endured my parents’ first wedding anniversary without my Dad, my nephew’s & brother-in-law’s birthdays, my husband’s and my wedding anniversary, the first day back to school went by without his traditional call to ask how the day went and various holidays ~ July 4th, Labor Day have already been celebrated without his earthly presence.

I guess that’s where this all ties in together for seasons change…life changes…we are born, we live, we die…and then…?  I won’t go into what happens next, because I am concentrating on the NOW…the PRESENT that we’ve been given.

My suggestion to you is to video tape your loved ones talking about something special…get their voices on tape…take pictures now while life is good because we only have today…we only have my Dad’s voice on the answering machines since he was always calling us.  I am grateful that I kept his last few messages.  My sister took a video of him when he was first put in the hospital, before he started to really go further downhill and it is one that I am ever grateful for because he sent me a message ~ one that I’ll forever cherish.

Which brings me to my passion ~ sending out love.  What’s the legacy you’re leaving behind?  If today was your last day, would your loved ones know how you feel?  Would there be kind words left unsaid?  I used to keep cards from my family that said something very special ~ you know, that note that said how proud of you they were and how much you are loved…those kinds…now I keep the last card sent from others because I’ve now found first hand how much it means to see a loved ones handwriting especially when it says something good.  You see, we all need to feel loved and to feel special.  An unexpected card in the mail, amidst the junk and bills, is a smile giver ~ telling someone now how you feel is a sure-fire way to not feel that there are words left unsaid.  Sending a card with your heartfelt words gives a concrete, hand-held reminder of how you feel ~ one that will be cherished.  And with SendOutCards you can even write it in your own handwriting, but from the comfort of your computer, in your pjs without leaving home!

Do you have 10 minutes and $1?  Of course you do…now use it…be the change you want to see in your life, in your relationships…you can’t change others, but you most certainly can change yourself!

Don’t FALL back into the routine which you’ve know for years…

branch out, let your cares fall like the leaves

and blow the freshness of a new season into your life and into the lives of others!

I’ll help by getting you started…

www.sendoutcards.com/126830

xo

7 Things About Me!

Thank you so much for the award!  I am so excited and grateful that you read my blog! 🙂

So, as a rule follower (and breaker!)….

1.  Thank the blogger who nominated you.

Thank you to magnoliabeginnings.org  for the 7 Things About Me Award.  As I told her earlier, I am so honored.  I love that we’ve connected!   I highly recommend her blog ~ please stop by to check it out!   She is awesome!  We just recently met and what made me love following her was her title:

Magnolia Beginnings: 

“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…

not going all the way, and not starting.” Buddha.

2.  Share seven things about you.

1. I’m a Mom, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Aunt, Teacher, Blogger and Friend.
2. I love connecting with people (can’t you tell?)
3. I adore reaching out to others via greeting cards because I think it’s important to show appreciation to others.
4. I’ve had 7 surgeries so far in the last 10 years and I’m scheduled for my next one at the end of this month!
5. I enjoy playing tennis.
6. I used to live in Spain.
7. If I could, I would go out to eat every night of the week!

3.  Nominate other bloggers you think deserve the award and post on their blog to let them know they’ve been nominated.

In no particular order:

I would like to nominate:  autismmommytherapist.wordpress.com

As a Mom of two amazing sons, Kimberlee writes of the beauty and struggles of raising sons with autism.  Her recently written & produced play, “Raising Autism” will pull at your heartstrings ~ Kimberlee juggles many hats while continuing to proactively raise money for POAC, finding joy in her children’s triumphs & supporting others all while writing her amazing blog!  She was the first blogger I ever followed…even if autism isn’t a part of your life, you’ll find love, chocolate, wine and friendship with Kimberlee.

I would like to nominate:  help-me-rhonda.com

Rhonda’s photographs, funny posts and great outlook on life will keep you smiling from ear to ear!  You’ll especially love her bits of #2 in the potty world posts ~ you may even P your pants in laughter!  She’s keep you on your toes ~ reminding you gently to use your common sense ~ so make sure you follow her!

I would like to nominate:  memorybearsbybonnie.wordpress.com

Bonnie’s history in hospice makes her the ideal person to make memory bears for your loved ones.  Her gentle, caring ways are evident in her posts and by the bears that she so cleverly makes with love.  Check out her site ~ it’s a keeper!

I would like to nominate:  writingstraight.com

Holly Michael is a Christian writer and author who wants to connect everyone to inspire and share our lives and writings.  She has many categories to choose to read from and enjoy!  Take a moment and follow her crooked lines and connect the dots!  You will enjoy every moment!

Please stop by the above treasures and enjoy them as much as I do! 

Surely you will be adding them to your list to follow!

Thank you again Magnolia Beginnings ~ I am so grateful!

xo

Do you Believe in Magic?

 

Below is a link to one of my favorite songs…and although I’ve not seen Tangled by Disney, this song sets my feet a’tapping and I get a goofy smile on my face every time I hear the beginning chords.  Take a moment and listen…are you smiling yet?

Do You Believe in Magic?

Do you have a song like that?  One that simply makes you smile in that child-like, carefree way and sets your feet and whole body rhythmically tapping to the beat?  It’s like magic when I get that feeling and I want it to continue every time it happens.

And then I started thinking…Brace yourself…I’m thinking…

What if we could keep that childhood magic alive everyday?

What MAGIC could we accomplish if we knew we could be MAGICAL?

Repeat the song…and listen to the lyrics…(see below)…

Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart
How the music can free her, whenever it starts
And it’s magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie
I’ll tell you about the magic, and it’ll free your soul
But it’s like trying to tell a stranger ’bout rock and roll

If you believe in magic don’t bother to choose
If it’s jug band music or rhythm and blues
Just go and listen it’ll start with a smile
It won’t wipe off your face no matter how hard you try
Your feet start tapping and you can’t seem to find
How you got there, so just blow your mind

If you believe in magic, come along with me
And we’ll dance until morning till there’s just you and me
And maybe, if the music is right
I’ll meet you tomorrow, sort of late at night
And we’ll go dancing, baby, then you’ll see
How the magic’s in the music and the music’s in me

Yeah, do you believe in magic, yeah
Believe in the magic of a young girl’s soul
Believe in the magic of a rock and roll
Believe in the magic that can set you free
Aaahhh, I’m talking ’bout the magic

Do you believe in magic, yeah
Do you believe like I believe
Now do you believe like I believe in magic
Do you believe like I believe
Do you believe like I believe

So the challenge for the week is to see if you can find your THEME song ~ the one that makes you feel MAGICAL!  You can even share mine because it’s so awesome!  See if you can find your song and then play it once a day…take a few minutes to just BE HAPPY and ENJOY a few ME minutes to Revive you, Ignite you and Inspire you to take better care of you!

Let me know how it goes for you…what’s your theme song?  How do you feel MAGICAL?  I’d love to add to my happy song list so please comment!

HAPPY MONDAY TO YOU!

Do you believe like I believe?

Believe in Magic!

xo

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Happy 4th of July to ALL ~ especially to those in the United States of America ~ for whom this quote is especially pertinent since it comes from the US Declaration of Independence which was adopted back in 1776.

I loved this quote because I believe it is everyone’s right…and it is in your own power to exercise your freedom to be whomever you wish to be and to pursue what makes you happy.  This is YOUR LIFE ~ and our time here on Earth is limited.  Why waste YOUR TIME?  Today, amidst the holiday, take a few moments to ask yourself:  Are you pursuing your happiness?  Are you happy with your life?  Do you feel free or under constraint?  If any of those answers are not what you deserve by your rights, then it’s time for a change in your life.  It’s the 2nd part of the year, so there’s plenty of time to begin any adjustments you may need to make.  And if your answers are that you are living your life happily within your rights, then kudos to you!  Keep up the great work and go on to inspire others!

Have the courage to be whomever you are inside…let your inner beauty sparkle and grow ~ let it blossom and be seen by others ~ let your light shine and inspire!

Do what makes you happy, be good to others and enjoy your life.  It is your right.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness….

Happy 4th Y’All!

xo

Gratitude Day 14 ~ Times like these…

It’s times like these that you find out who your true friends are

and how lucky you are to have them in your life!

Wow…I am overwhelmed by all of the many people who have reached out to my family while my Dad continues to be in ICU at the hospital.  I sent a mass email (following Dad’s orders) to his contact list on email so that everyone knew what was going on with him.  I have received so many heartfelt messages back that I am simply speechless.  What’s brought me so much joy has been reading how everyone knows him and the many stories that they are telling me including how long they have known him and how long their families have known him.

My email went out blindly as the addresses weren’t named and many that were named, were not names that I was familiar with so it’s been an interesting 24 hours.   What amazes me is that he didn’t participate in a gratitude challenge (at least I’m not aware of it) but he has simply touched so many lives simply by being himself.  Now I am not putting him up for Sainthood as he is not perfect and is rather persnickety ~ truly an understatement ~ but he has given of himself to others which has helped them.  What a great legacy for his daughters and wife to experience while he is still here…and for him as well!

Which brings me to why it’s so important as I continue to stress, to live in the moment, to enjoy THE PRESENTS OF PRESENCE ~ the GIFT of NOW!  Tell those that you love that you love them, hug them close, tell them how grateful you are and take a moment to send a heartfelt card.

We only have today my friends ~ I don’t want to wait until it’s too late to hear that I mattered to you ~ and you don’t want to not hear it as well ~ make today count ~ take a moment to tell a friend, a stranger, a family member how you feel about them!  You’ll be glad you did!

Happy Tuesday!

Grateful Day 14 ~ my life is changing for the better ~ come join me and change your life!

xo

Gratitude Day 6 ~ It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!

Thank you for your kindness, taking care of me when I needed it the most.

I’ll never forget it, I’ll always appreciate it, and I’m looking forward to being able to gladly return the favor.

Dear Cathy, Steve & Jeter,

I just don’t know where to begin to thank you for being YOU!  You are the BEST Neighbors ever!  Your delicious meals for our family were greatly appreciated!  You always ‘knew’ when we needed you most!  Thank you!

I also loved the jasmine plant you gave me as it reminds me of when I lived in Spain!  I love the smell of jasmine!

Thank you again for everything.  We are so blessed to know and to love you!

Lots of Love,

Misifusa & Family

Kindness is so welcome at all times.  My neighborhood is wonderful as I am surrounded by such amazing families.  We all band together and enjoy eachother’s company.  We look out for eachother and take care of our little ‘peace of Heaven.’  We have been here 14 years and we’ve had the same neighbors.  It’s like having an extended family for which I am grateful.

I believe you can find what you are looking for ~ if you seek loving people, you find them…if you seek grumpy people, you find them.  The trick is to see the good in all so that the grumpies never get a chance to flourish!

Happy Monday ~

May your week start off right ~

with loving people surrounding you with support!

xo

Gratitude Day 5

You are a real treasure in my life. A constant source of Joy and Happiness.

To My Dearest Son,

I cannot believe that today is your 14th birthday.  It seems like just yesterday you were born and our lives changed for the better in an instant!  You are an amazing young man and we feel so blessed to know and to love you.  We are so very proud of you and we are so proud to be your parents!  You are everything we ever wanted in a son and more!  My heart fills with happiness every morning when I hug you good morning and I love watching you as you go about your day ~ I love how kind, loving, caring and beautiful you are both inside and out ~ you are handsome, intelligent, compassionate and athletic.  Your gracefulness in how you treat others and how you move throughout your day is astounding to me.  With such amazing ease, you travel your days and nights and I am so blessed to watch as you live your life in such a loving way.   I love to hear about your day when you get home from school and I am grateful that we can chat like friends and like Mom and Son…I love that you share your day with me and that we can talk about anything.  I love that you have built friendships with many different people and that you are friendly to everyone.  I love that every night when we kiss and hug goodnight, I now have to put my head on your shoulder…I am amazed how fast you’ve grown up and I am proud of who you are!  I was so happy to make your favorite meal last night which was one of my meals…I was so happy that you like my cooking!  I am very excited today to celebrate your birthday with you ~ and have our entire family together to celebrate YOU!  What a beautiful day it is today!  The sun is shining, the weather is perfect ~ all is as it should be in order to celebrate YOU!  You continue to make us so proud of you in everything that you do…thank you for being our perfect son!   We love you with all of our hearts for always and forever!  xoxo

I hope this says it all…I always believed in praising my children and disciplining them as well…but I always want them to know how special they are to me and how much they can make a difference in life by being kind.  I am very blessed to have such amazing children and during this period of time, I thought it appropriate to be grateful for them!  So here it is!

Have you told your family how grateful you are for them?  Perhaps today’s the day?

Have a grateful Sunday!

xo