Just a little reminder for us all. May you enjoy every precious moment, especially this one!
Shine On!
xo
Inspirational credit: https://www.ramdass.org/his-holiness-the-14th-dalai-lama/
Photo Credit: Here
“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.”
― Eleanor Roosevelt
P.S. My apologies to Daily Prompt ~ I thought we could pick a ‘cliche’ like bird in the hand! Whoops!
This is one of my all time favorite quotes and I am so happy that the Daily Prompt today allows me to share why Eleanor’s quote is so near and dear to me. For those that don’t know, I am an 11 year breast cancer survivor and this was one of the many quotes which changed my life. In fact, it changed me so profoundly that I made it my motto!
BC (Before cancer) I was a happily married mom of 2 boys ages 3 and 1 who was a full-time Spanish teacher who loved her life. Blessed with my dream hubby, dream job and 2 healthy, happy sons, my life was great although my hubby was traveling a lot at the time so I was learning a lot about myself and how to juggle a full, fast-paced life!
No mistaking it ~ I was happy, but I was rushing through my life at breakneck speed. It seemed that I was constantly concentrating on teaching and my children and my husband and our family life and our house, our cat, our finances and such ~ all at the same time with the same intensity. What I wasn’t concentrating on was myself. I was taking “me time” which was falling asleep on the couch watching tv after I put the kids to bed when my husband wasn’t around, but I always keeping one ear and eye open for any stray noises in the night or a child’s sniffle. You know what that’s like if you’re a parent. It is the norm for so many people!
Then came the morning when I found the lump and after that, my life as I knew it changed in an instant although I didn’t realize it at the time.
The beauty in my present life is that when I write my blog and post on my FB page, I do it from a place of knowing and experience. I’m not just some rah rah inspirational woman who hasn’t lived in the sad place of illness or been beaten down by 14 surgeries or lost her femininity for awhile along with her breasts, her hair and her sense of self. I’ve known grief, depression, loss and sadness in my life. I’ve experienced a multitude of unspeakable moments which have shaped me into the woman I am today. And what I find so amazing is that if I had to endure the past journey that I have lived in order to be in this amazing place of now, today ~ then I feel that I am blessed with a PRESENT for which I am ever grateful!
Because I am still that gal who sees the glass as 1/2 full, frolics with her amazing children, holds hands with the same wonderful hubby, now enjoys napping with 2 cats and who has grown in so many ways and appreciates life every step of the way! It’s your choice, it’s in your attitude, for it’s your life and you hold the key to your happiness!
Today is yours ~ you have a choice ~
Enjoy the Presents of Presence!
Shine On!
xo
Congratulations!
February 1st, 2002 was the date that I had my bilateral mastectomy due to my breast cancer diagnosis and the pathology report which read that after my lumpectomy, I still had breast cancer in my body. It’s also the date that marks the fact that I finally took hold of my own health and my life and decided to prophylactically take the non-cancerous breast as well, much to my surgeon’s chagrin. I can happily report to you, that I still stand by my decision as it was the right one for me.
There is so much I have learned in the last 11 years since that day that I walked into the OR by myself, sobbing after being taken away from hugging my supportive husband who still stands by my side. In the wake of having had those breasts reconstructed with silicone implants twice since then and then after having one of those implants rupture last year, beginning multiple surgeries to create what I now have for breasts which is body tissue taken from other parts of my body to make new, real, soft fleshy breasts which are mine and not artificial, hard, painful implants which I had endured because I had no choice, I am celebrating!
Since my breast cancer diagnosis on New Year’s Eve of 2001, my life has changed so dramatically that words fail me in trying to explain how richer my life has become. I have endured much suffering, but I have also reaped many blessings. I am grateful for each and every day when I arise from my bed to greet the world. I am thankful for life’s blessings, the big and small ones and I know firsthand the meaning of the preciousness of time. I practice being present in my life ~ enjoying The Presents of Presence ~ meaning actually being in the moment and enjoying what that moment offers. My intent to cast worry from my shoulders is an ongoing trial in my life, but I accept that it is a work in progress.
I know I am blessed with a loving family and much support in my life and I rejoice in the fact that I can continue to send out love on a daily basis through my blog, my FB page The Presents of Presence, my SendOutCards business and my actions. I have struggled through the grief of losing my breasts, fighting the disease through multiple surgeries (more than 10 and counting), ACT (chemotherapy), radiation, the loss of my ovaries at age 35 (salpingo oophorectomy), multiple needles, shots, medications, tamoxifen, arimidex, the loss of my hair, my self-esteem, my confidence as a woman, the sad passing of friends from the same disease and the mortal fear of reoccurrence. This is not a pity party by any means, so please don’t mis-understand me. It’s actually a celebration of triumph!
My mother-in-law texted me this morning, “Have an especially happy day!” and I knew exactly what she meant for I knew that she remembered ~ and I knew that she would be there with me celebrating this momentous event. I’m still here! I have no painful implants anymore! I have come full circle today ~ from having my God-given breasts, to having them removed due to dis-ease, to having them reconstructed not once, but twice with implants, to having been miraculously restored and reconstructed with breasts again which are of my own flesh and blood.
I am not sure that if you haven’t experienced this phenomenon that you can imagine how incredible it is to be here 11 years later celebrating so many wonderful gifts that my life has brought to me. It is with heartfelt tears of joy, of gratitude and of above all, love that I write to you today. However, knowing that we all carry burdens while we endure our journey on this earth, I feel like this is OUR CELEBRATION TODAY! So please indulge me as I invite you to celebrate love and life on the first of February (don’t forget to say Rabbit Rabbit) as well as family, friends, miracles, faith, joy, laughter, tears, gratitude, blessings, health, compassion, friendship…I could go on and on!
Celebrate Today my friends…Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future…
Today is a gift, that’s why we call it the Present!
May The Presents of Presence
Be with You Every Day!
Shine On!
xo
Make today better than yesterday and tomorrow better than today!
Everyday you have a choice when you wake up…I tell my kids this all the time…you can wake up and say to yourself, “Oh, what a day!” with love, cheer and hope or you can wake up, saying those same words, “Oh, what a day!” and have the complete opposite meaning ~ grumbly, sad, and depressed. And your day will follow your thoughts.
I am not always bright and cheery, although I do try to be much of the time. I try to see the good, but sometimes, I take off my rose-colored glasses and assess life and I don’t always like what I see. However, I have found that even though I don’t like it, it’s good for me to do because it gives me a chance to realign myself and get back to the basics that I may have let slide.
Until a few years ago, I believed I was responsible for everyone’s happiness. I’ve come to realize that we are all responsible for our happiness ~ and for me, it’s not a ‘when I get a new house’ or ‘when I win the lottery’ or ‘when I am married’ or ‘when the kids are grown up and out of the house’ type of happiness that I am searching for ~ it’s that I’m happy today where I am type of happiness that I’ve embraced and I enjoy.
I know I am blessed to be where I am at this stage in my life ~ and my gift is that I am happy with my life. Are there tweaks which I wish to make to it to make it better? Absolutely. But I can say without a doubt, I am happy today…at this moment…and today is better than yesterday ~ and tomorrow will be better than today…baby steps!
Be happy today.
It’s a choice you make…make the one that makes you happy!
xo
Misifusa's Blog 