I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas, happy Chanukah, happy Kwanza and whatever festivities you celebrate at this time of year. I apologize to all my subscribers for disappearing for a while.
I was diagnosed with cancer in April and was able to write throughout my operation. But as the days dragged into radiation and then chemo, I was confronted with some body challenges. I honestly thought because of my determination and grit, I would be able to function like a normal person. As my ability to focus and think became compromised... yes the infamous chemo brain, I had to rethink what's important. And that, my friends, was to get well and stay well. My daily life became about taking care of myself and pretty much hibernating. If you have questions on how to get through cancer, I certainly would be happy to share.
I would say the first thing to remember is to start each day with a positive heart and a grateful attitude. Don't live in the misery or doubt. It's easy to get swallowed by the depression monster when you just want to stay in bed and vegetate. I'm not kidding. Force yourself to do small things...like get up, make the bed, get dressed or eat something you want or stretch...or even unload the dishwasher and sing to your cat. This is something I wish they would teach in school; No... not singing to your cat necessarily but bad things happen in life to everyone. We are all connected in that way. How do we cope with the 'not-so-good-times' and not get swept away? This is my impression of teaching a life skill that would serve students well for the rest of their lives. It could be a class for one semester called "Real Talk," (or something like that), where students get to voice their concerns and get feedback and support from others.
So today was my "real talk." A day at a time, I am getting through this, figuring out what my body needs in the moments and making it or letting it happen. For me, sometimes, I just need to let myself relax and heal.
Enjoy your vacations, your children and your life. Remember to seek out the positive. Have a happy, healthy, joyous new year and try to learn something new every day that you can share with others.
Peace and Take care, Leslie
Leslie K. Brooks is the author of Education Aggravation: A Retired teacher's View from the Trenches - A Call to Action, sold on Amazon and also can be ordered by your local book store.