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Survivorship
The stories and experiences are written by people after cancer treatments. These stories are written for those learning how to get back to work, college or just trying to be themselves again. Just getting past treatments isn’t enough, it is surviving and thriving that is key to being you again.
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When Cancer Stole My Voice, Mindset Helped Me Find It
Talking about mindset feels like a minefield when it comes to cancer survivorship, but I’m going to do it anyway. In a world where we as cancer patients and survivors are constantly bombarded with toxic positivity and sentiments such as “Just Stay Positive” or “Everything Happens for a Reason,” the one suggestion that felt somewhat helpful to me (relatively speaking) was to “Take Things One Day at a Time.”
Read More...Mindfulness Takes Center Stage
It’s raining right now, and you’d think this would be the perfect atmosphere to write this piece. I have soft, relaxing music playing, and I can hear the pitter patter of the rain outside. Despite all this, I find writing this to be extremely difficult. I’m not used to reading my own work aloud, and the idea of doing so makes me second guess each sentence I type out.
Read More...Unpacking Mindfulness
Mindfulness. Is it a state of being? Understanding? I’m not quite sure, but I think I have finally gotten there. By there I mean a state of mind where I’m not filled with fear or anxiety of what’s next, but rather comfortable with the decisions I have made so far.
Read More...Grief vs. Belief
Life-changing events have come and gone on several occasions in my 33 years; my dad’s dementia, Mum’s fractured pelvis, and my brother’s stage IV lymphoma. Some have come and not quite gone, too – my own brain tumor still hangs around like a (thankfully now small) reminder, and that’s what led me to Elephants and Tea!
Read More...Living My Best Ostomate Life
These days when someone gives the advice to “live your best life,” many might associate the phrase with celebrity journalist and talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, who began using it regularly on her show and in O Magazine beginning in 1998.
Read More...Does It Get Easier?
Does it ever get easier? I walked on the beach for a few miles. My knees have hurt ever since. I drove for a quick work trip to Columbus. My back is in pain. I went to a baseball game. And packed my own food to eat.
Read More...Finding Freedom in Food
I throw back the last bit of hot khachapuri with a bit of water in the Tbilisi airport. My stomach growls, but I don’t have time for another before boarding. I immediately think about what I can eat in the Dubai airport before my flight to Amman.
Read More...On Cancer and Self-Reflection
When I was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, one of the more common messages I received was that I would gain a new perspective or a new sense of meaning from having such a jarring experience.
Read More...A Quiet Moment
Hi friends! I decided to write on a topic called “a quiet moment.” This simply means: what does a quiet moment mean to you? What do you all think about when you do get a quiet moment?
Read More...It Was Least Expected
You may not think that missing an eye appointment is a big deal right? Well, you are wrong, so wrong. It is so important that you see your doctors for check ups throughout the year; you never know what they’ll find.
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