New Normal – Hello Gorgeous

Dear Soul,

In today’s world change happens quickly and with the rising cost of living, and demands of our time and energy things are vastly different in comparison to our childhood. I grew up I feel in a simpler time when being a kid was just that. We had worries, but not to the degree this young generation has in 2024.

With that gap due to technology, socialized behaviors, and changes in social expectations, and declining health both physical and mental adapting creates a new normal. Let me quantify normal – what you do, how you do life each and every day your way, and when there is a disruption to that way of being, it is no longer the same, hence creating a new normal.

I have recovered from Stage Three Invasive Ductal Carcinoma – aka Breast Cancer and with that there were many new normals and adaptations to life. None is more prevalent and in the front of my mind as I write this blog. During my chemo treatment, I acquired a new normal – neuropathy in my hands and feet. This dis – ease creates sensations of glass shards in your fingers, numbness, and burning in my feet and hands. The capacity to have strength in my hands has diminished significantly so therein adapting mentally and physically is needed. I cannot go back to my former self and only move forward.

“In the forward motion, there is a need to give yourself grace and love that there will be good days, hard days, and super challenging days with neuropathy.”

On the super challenging days, I need walking assistance with a cane or a mobile chair at the grocery store. With grace and compassion, I could see that this was not a time to mentally beat myself up as to why I wasn’t physically like I used to be. The truth is in my now I could never go back, life has already taken place, and although I have a physical limit, the spiritual and emotional growth far outweighs the discomfort.

Today more than ever, I realized as I experienced a limit that it was my turn to love and care for me in a way that put me first. Putting myself first is not something I have been stellar at over the years. A short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain. A gain that is needed if I am to continue moving step by step through the stages of my breast cancer treatment.

Treatments that continue to test my mettle, my grit, my thriving. The pancake stacking of side effects takes courage to be vulnerable with yourself about. It is easy to pretend as if all is well when truthfully you are not. It does not ease the discomfort or give you greater energy to keep going if anything it masks and depletes your spiritual self. Having self-integrity means you don’t hide; you get honest and seek those in your inner circles who can help bear your burden, hold you up, and keep you accountable to yourself.

As I sat today, fully aware of the effects of the pain medicine, still experiencing pain, I realized that there has to be a coping skill that thwarts the onslaught of long-term pain. As the zings propelled tears to my eyes and I felt totally overwhelmed, I looked up. A gentle smile moved across my face, and I saw the answer.

“A picture hung on the wall, and it simply said – Hello Gorgeous.”

Gorgeous – beautiful, attractive, pleasant, splendid, brilliant, and magnificent. I am me and have the potential to be and feel all those things amidst my greatest life challenge. I get to choose how to respond beautifully, with a splendid, pleasant brilliance. Think of those words – with splendid, pleasant brilliance. Every moment of the day we get to choose our responses and “Hello Gorgeous” was my antidote in small and simple things of the day when pain or medication side effects are present, things I cannot control, however, my response to these things is entirely up to me.

The pain has subsided, the nausea ever-present, and I am grateful for today where I got to see how I can assist hard things in becoming pleasant, gentle, and filled with my kind of brilliance. Here is the challenge for you, find ways to turn those frown moments upside down and inside out. Seek to find your splendid, pleasant, brilliant responses as you go throughout your day with gratitude in your heart.