This has been a pretty intense (ok, insane) week. I have been on the road in Chicago and New York sharing The Companion Guide. Despite the hectic nature of the days (not sure what town I’m writing this from!), I have had the great and wonderful opportunity to meet lots of people and hear the most incredible stories. Hearing about people’s life experiences is always such an inspiration to me (after all, I am Irish!).
This week, I have given many talks and interviews. My oh my oh my. On Tuesday, I did something called a “Satellite Media Tour” during which Stacy Sharpe, the beautiful and smart and amazing VP of Corporate relations at Allstate and I told the story (about ten times in a row to different television & radio stations) of The Companion Guide and Allstate’s commitment to give away companion guides for FREE to each and every person impacted by FBC between October of 2014 and October of 2015. By the way, if you haven’t downloaded your free copy, you can do so here: http://www.directrelief.org/silverlining
During each and every one of the interviews, hope is the recurring theme. After all, looking for (and then inevitably finding!) Silver Linings is what has always and continues to give me hope to get through the difficult times, even just a tough day. I believe that each and every one of us can do this, whether it is a diagnosis, heartbreak, job loss…What I know with absolute certainty is that pain is pain. We are all going to face pain in life. It is inevitable. What I also know for sure is that
So, this weekend, I hope that you will make the active decision to choose hope.
Since my diagnosis in April, surgery in May and chemo for the past 15 weeks, I’ve been fairly hopeful. Today though, I’m having a rough time feeling anything but despair. I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and I’m tired of looking like a cancer victim. I’m tired of the watery eyes, the water retention, my clothes feeling too tight…bla bla bla.
Sorry, feeling sorry for myself tonight. Will try harder tomorrow!
Thanks for your words of wisdom- I do appreciate them.
I am HOPING that you will come back to SB soon! 🙂
TODAY!!!!! xx
Awesome job on Windy City live !!!!
Xxoo
Next time in Chicago let’s have diner
Sandy
Thanks so much, Sandy!
A year out of treatment, I missed having a parakeet to cheer up my kitchen. On an impulse I went to PETCO, stood watching a feisty little cobalt blue bird that was having a wonderful time amusing himself. I bought him and gave him a name I’d always wanted to give a parakeet: Hope. The name is of course from Emily Dickenson’s poem “Hope Is The Thing With Feathers”.
Beautiful, Steph! Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful! You inspire HOPE for many. Bless you for choosing hope.
Thanks so much!
Thank you dear Hollye, and please just make sure that while you are caring for everyone else, you also take care of yourself! … Also, if I may say to Patricia, it’s okay to feel sad and even to feel sorry for yourself. Give in to it and roll with it, and keep rolling.Don’t park there, and eventually you WILL get to a better place. Speaking of watery, running eyes and noses… I remember once having dinner with a friend, and both of us were in chemo. My nose started running and nearly fell in my spaghetti before I could catch it. “WTF with the running?!” I said. He said, “Everything runs.” “It does,” I said, “Everything just RUNS all the damn time whenever it wants to!” And we both burst out laughing. Keep rolling, Patricia, and good luck.
Fabulous story, Frances. You’re SO RIGHT!!!! xxxx