Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Your Inspirational Thought of the Day

Life is short.  Embrace it.  You've heard it before, but do you really understand it?  Something can happen at any time to end it, or to decrease the quality of it substantially.  My turning point happened in the PACU after a tumor removal.  Even in my drugged state, I knew what the doctor meant when he said the cells were neoplastic.   Oiy.  It was December 27th, 2011.  Merry Christmas, right?  I was 27 and had old lady ovarian cancer.  The doctor's said it was highly unlikely that it was cancerous, but me and my whole can't-be-like-everyone-else self defied the odds.   Sure, I wallowed in my pity a little.  The first few weeks were terrible. 
Somewhere in that time period, I realized how lucky I was.   It was caught when it was tiny, before it had spread anywhere.  This is how summer camp saved my life.  The doctor at camp, didn't like how sick I was that week and demanded that I go to see a new primary care provider.  That doctor did the most thorough assessment I've ever had and evaluated every symptom I could think of.  Finally, I was sent to the CT scanner, where my tumor was found.  Lucky, right?
This totally changed my life.  I might have done a lot of things this past year that may have sounded questionable.  I was out all the time, go to bed late, work all day, then go back out.  Repeat.  I was exhausted, but I was happy.  I started my informal bucket list.  No where will you find a paper copy.  It's all in my head, and it is ever changing.  Some things are added on the spot!  Some of my best adventures are all spontaneous. 
One of my favorite stories, included one of my friends.  We went to get lunch in my old part of town, walked the Loveland bike trail and along the river, did some shopping, then ended with a picnic in my new favorite park, and playing pool (soaking wet) at a local bar (most of the day was spontaneous).  My favorite part was when I was eyeing the fountain at the park, with the intention to run through it.  Instead of looking at me like I was uncouth or crazy, he told me to hand him my purse!  Then when I was barely wet, he encouraged me to go all in!  Why be restrained by what other's think?  If there is something you want, go for it.  Find a friend who wants you to run through fountain, put that on your list.
I am always out there, doing fun, perhaps slightly crazy, things.  Nothing bugs me more than when I ask someone if they are up to anything, and they say "No."  Why???  Go out there, do big things.  Make memories that will last.  Most importantly, make each day count. 

                                    (That's my fountain at Washington Park in Cincinnati)
       Now that I think about it, it is funny that my favorite place was Washington Park.... Fate????

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