Category: 2021
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December: Full-circle On D-Day
Vulnerability as a coping tool I made it through yesterday, and here I am ready to face today. Key learnings: I will take care of myself; I will not neglect myself. I can make healthy choices. I will find struggle and I have the mindset to move through a spectrum of emotions; feeling, reckoning, rumbling…
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November: Expressing Gratitude
Transformation, Resurrection, and Gratitude There is much healing to be found in belonging to oneself, in belonging everywhere and nowhere at once. To find peace in a moment and find that peace reflected in the hearts around you is to pass that peace amidst a universe of chaos. Well, I showed up for my appointment,…
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October: The Story…
Writer’s Feedback: The Story You Need to Tell: Writing to Heal from Trauma, Illness or Loss by Sandra Marinella, MA, MEd “There is nothing so wise as a circle.” – Rainer Maria Rilke Thank you all for your understanding of my absence last month; I needed a mental health break. I am grateful for the…
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August: Entering the Inner Cave
August 6, 2021 Approaching our Inner Self Holistic care has provided me with a new understanding of “self”. I’ve accepted I will experience different forms of healing as I continue my life as a cancer survivor. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely…
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July: Finding Meaning in Change
July 9, 2021 Cultivating post-traumatic growth as we heal Last month we wrote about crossing the threshold in our healing journey, accepting change in our lives, and finding traction along our path. This month we will write about living with changed conditions and how our beliefs shape our path. Some days I feel sprung with…
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April: Honoring Our Mentors
My heart is heavy with the news that our dear friend is in hospice. This news triggers multiple overwhelming emotions: sadness and fear, empathy and sympathy, and a loss for words. I want to honor these feelings and reach out to tell her how much she means to me. Tell her how much I’ve learned…
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March: Coping with Stress and Change
Hello Writers, spring is in the air… And for better or for worse, change is all around. Like the cycling of the seasons, change has become an expected part of life. Along our journey, we learn to lean into change and accept uncertainty. Our experience informs us that not all things go as we plan.…
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Febuary: Impacts to Intimacy
Fortifying confidence and intimacy through self-expression Several factors may impact our sexual wellness throughout our experience with cancer. These factors often are biological, psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural in nature (M., J. et al. 2012, UCSF SWG 2020). The body changes from treatments, surgeries, and fluctuations in hormone regulation. Psychological impacts related to desire and “readiness”…
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January: Authentic Self
January 8, 2021 By my very nature, I influence those around me. Not by attitude or action alone, but through authenticity of self I may empower others to be better versions of their own humanity. -Jen Hildreth I am striving to regain momentum in my career post-cancer diagnosis and treatment. In 2019, I graduated from…
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