I was recently asked about my connection to healing and the role that spirituality played in that process. I thought it was a great question, so let me share some of my views on my personal spirituality and how it plays an important role in my daily life and living.

To begin, I can honestly say that I’ve always possessed a strong feeling of being connected to a divine presence. As young girls, my sister and I rarely (if ever!) missed Sunday School, which we loved attending. Well, I did anyway. And before going to sleep, we always said our ‘Now I lay me down to sleeps’—as a matter of fact, I still do. I also I fondly remember heading off to Bible School during summer break and loving every minute of it. Not to say that we were a particularly religious family, but those early interventions with church and God certainly instilled in me a strong sense of spirituality. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the hopeful sense of wellbeing that my growing spirituality has on my values and on my belief system.

With thanks to the Chaplin who regularly visited me in hospital during my darker days while undergoing treatment for cancer, it was she who opened my world to many of the complementary therapies that I have continued to use as tools to help my overall sense of wellbeing and healing. I recently read that the results of over 200 studies suggested that prayer of any type or denomination has proven to effectively support a strong sense of wellbeing and healing of the mind, body and spirit. In fact, in one such survey researchers at the University of Michigan believe that involvement in community and religious rituals may promote feelings of hope, serenity and optimism. The researchers also concluded that participating in or attending religious services can extend one’s lifespan about as much as moderate exercise or not smoking. Pretty impressive!

In prior blog posts I’ve referenced the first-hand benefits of my daily prayerful meditation or visualization techniques. I also love sessions of meditation and yoga, sometimes to Buddha Bar tunes. I’m also particularly interested in metaphysical healing; from sacred places on the earth to the metaphysical powers of crystals, and collecting and learning about objects from various religions or religious practices, I enjoy incorporating the uplifting energy I receive from these practices. On a trip to Arizona in February, I found great joy in ticking off another of my “living list places to see and visit” (no bucket list for me, thanks!!). Sedona is definitely a place I want to spend more time—the spiritual energy there was magical. My Arizona agenda was dominated by my long-time passion to visit the Tucson bead, gem and mineral show. And, oh-my, I’ve been in metaphysical bead heaven ever since.

I’ve been collecting beads and gems to design and selling necklaces since I was about nine years old. To this day, designing jewellery and collecting beads, crystals and baubles from around the globe that I can incorporate into jewellery is one of my greatest pastimes and pleasures.

At the bead show, I found myself particularly fascinated by some old Tibetan pendants, prayer beads and prayer boxes. Of course I added a number of these spectacular pieces to my personal collection.

Of course, being addicted to pearls and more recently hand painted Deity pendants from India, I added many “new to me” objects d’art. These photos show some of my new treasures as seen scattered across my workspace in my mini-Indonesian apartment.

And my Tibetan Prayer Boxes, I just can’t seem to put away, so it seems they too have taken up home on my Singaporean step chest. I think you’ll agree, they are very special indeed!

Since I returned home, you can probably imagine that I’ve been enjoying stringing pearls, semi-precious stones and lovely crystals whenever I can find a few hours to myself. For me, the process of creating is meditative and liberating. What activities connect you to your spiritual self?

Mind, Body and Spirit.  We hear lots about it – it’s become a motto, a tagline and a mantra for many – but what does it really mean to those of us on the lifelong cancer journey? 

Taking that question to heart, I spent some time recently talking with a doctor friend of mine about the long-term impact of cancer and how it relates to ongoing health care and general well-being.  We discussed a range of topics including how once an individual is diagnosed with cancer, even well beyond active treatment, the focus of health care often revolves around the cancer, and the host of physical challenges it presents. For example, because of the tendency to be particularly cautious about cancer’s side effects and alert to possible recurrence, other regular and routine checks that should take place often don’t.  We also discussed how the need to care not just for the body, but the mind and spirit as well is so vital to ongoing well-being and quality of daily life and living. 

Throughout my cancer journey I’ve have great interest in and good reason to explore the mind-body-spirit connection.  As a result, I am a firm believer in the need to care for the whole person – not just the physical part of the cancer experience. Many of you know from my prior blogs that one of my greatest physical side effects from cancer is the nerve damage resulting from the host of aggressive treatments I received including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  I wear braces on my legs and walk with a cane, and despite the daily challenges my disability causes, I am always grateful that I am independent and the very fact that I can even walk at all.  

For me, visualization can be a powerful way to re-energize myself.  I find prayerful meditation can be as calming and relaxing as it is inspiring and uplifting, helping to calm some of my daily stress and anxiety.  I like to call these self-care techniques my daily “Good for Me’s”.  More recently, despite my mobility issues, I’ve created my own approach to a gentle workout routine based on breathing and stretching while listening to chakra balancing music … and I’ve come to love it.  I think I’m addicted to endorphins and dopamine, and it never ceases to surprise me how empowering this special time of self-care and development is, uplifting and motivating me all day long.

One of my favourite books, Molecules of Emotion by Dr. Candace Pert states that our thoughts and emotions impact our health through the mind-body connection.  Dr. Pert’s work suggests that that the body and mind are one. She would also tell us that the body feeds the mind and the mind feeds the body, and that our thoughts and feelings, in addition to our beliefs and attitudes, all impact and shape who we are as well as our biological functioning.  Interesting? You bet!

I also know how empowering self-care can be not only for those is us living with cancer (present and past) but also for our caregivers.  This past year I had the honour of working with the Nakurk Hospice in Kenya to address a vastly diverse group of caregivers for those with cancer.  We talked about how vital self-care was and the many ways in which it can be incorporated into our day-to-day lives.  Simple things like feeling the sun on your face, taking a quiet walk and looking to nature can boost our spirits and recharge our energy bank. So, as I write this blog entry, I’m especially interested to know more about the ways you make time for yourself and your personal self-care. Perhaps, like me, you’ve incorporated some daily rituals to nurture your emotional and spiritual health as well as your physical well-being. I’d love for you to tell me about them in the comments section.

Over the past couple of weeks I have had the good fortune to do some travelling. First, a work-related trip to the west coast to meet one of our wonderful facingcancer.ca bloggers, Terri, and to meet with and recognize our oh-so dedicated Look Good Feel Better expert volunteers in Victoria and Vancouver; and then it was onto an adventure that took me to Kenya, India and Thailand where I got to spend some time with my delightful goddaughter, Ocea, who is 11 years old. 

After spending time with Ocea, who gave me some insights to the pre-teen world, I am amazed at how different life is for girls who are growing up today. The internet, social media, TV and music open the world to girls in a way that just wasn’t possible when I was her age.  And while there are some negatives to this, I also believe it is making the next generation of women worldly and more aware than in previous generations.  More young people are fundraising and volunteering for causes close to their hearts, and advocacy groups are teaching young girls ways to help other little girls in developing countries.  For Ocea and her peers, the world is definitely a much smaller place than when I was a girl.

At the CCTFA Foundation, we were recently touched by a young girl who, at the age of 10, is already working to make a difference for others. Several months back, a letter arrived at our offices, addressed to the Look Good Feel Better program.  There was no return address on the envelope and inside we found a sealed plastic bag full of hair and a handwritten note that said, simply:

We have no way of knowing who Tamara is, or how her life was touched by cancer.  But we do know that her compassionate gesture of kindness touched all of us at the Foundation.  I could hardly wait to share Tamara’s story with our friends and long-time supporters at Jon Renau, who supply wigs for our Look Good Feel Better workshops. They, too, were inspired by the caring act of goodwill demonstrated by this special young girl. In Tamara’s honour, Jon Reneau launched a new line of wigs in May called, of course, “Tamara”. The Tamara wig has a Smartlace cap, which provides the most natural-looking hairline and is available at boutiques across Canada. (Visit our site for availability and information.) For each wig sold, Jon Renau is making a generous donation to Look Good Feel Better to help realize Tamara’s wish of helping women face cancer with confidence.

Tamara’s act of kindness is helping more women than she could have possibly imagined when she mailed us her ponytail. If you would like to help ‘pay it forward’, you can make a financial contribution in Tamara’s name.

In closing, on behalf of all of us at the Foundation, Tamara, you’ve inspired us and for that, we thank you. You are making a huge difference in helping women faced with the appearance-related challenges of cancer treatment look and feel more like themselves again. As the formidable Beyoncé says, girls run the world.

In my work, I am fortunate to meet inspiring people every day and I find that every encounter leaves me with a “take away”. Whether it’s something simple, or something more profound, I believe we are meant to learn from each other and our unique experiences. Alex Ginty says this is why she is so passionate about telling the story of her cancer journey: so others can get the lessons without having the cancer.

Recently, we received news from one of our dedicated board members that her father was diagnosed with cancer. Despite being told by doctors that his cancer is terminal, he is as determined as ever to live life to the fullest and put every effort into the fight against cancer. He has agreed to share his profound insights with all of us so that we may learn from his situation and look at life a little differently. Here is a letter he has written recently to the many friends and family inquiring about his wellbeing. May you be as inspired by his words as I am.

Dearest friends and family,

So the latest update. I am reminded of the film Forrest Gump, in which Tom Hanks says, “My momma always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get’.” After much debate amongst the experts the conclusion is I have terminal cancer.

I am seeing the oncologist on Tuesday next week. It turns out that chemo is kind of useless. Why is it offered? As one doctor said, “people want you to do something!” I am going just to hear what he has to say. If I hear something fantastic then okay we will consider, but it is doubtful. Today Marion, Peter and I are off to see a doctor who specializes in helping strengthen your own immune system. Can’t hurt right?

So where exactly does that leave me? Turns out that there is a whole study on people who were given six months or less to live. A percentage have eradicated their cancer altogether or managed to control it for years. Just so. No medicine or treatments, just their will. I intend to give it a go. If I am right and if what everybody keeps telling me is right, then I can beat this.

I intend to live my life the same way as I have always lived it. A few changes; I will stop worrying about what might happen. The other night I ate oysters and Marion said, “Gosh you haven’t eaten oysters for such a long time – how come?” to which I replied, “I didn’t want to get sick!” We all laughed.

I certainly will not get involved in other people’s problems unless I am specifically asked. You know we feel we have to rush in with an opinion to help them see their foolish ways. I have learned that most people enjoy their problems because they don’t do anything about it, they just complain. I heard the other day of a young woman who has become ill because of the fact that her basement is being altered. She got hives and headaches. I wonder what I should get when considering my situation?

I have to see every day as an opportunity to love my kids, my wife, my extended family. There is no room for petty, trivial arguments that consume our daily lives. There is no refund on the last twenty-five years so I have to live the next years with an openness, a balance and with enjoyment. I will not look at the weather and complain, because the alternative is not to look at the weather at all. I will not shout at the traffic anymore, or get impatient because the fool (see there I go again) drives too slow or too fast.

People often ask if you had six months to live, what would you change? Too late then! Perhaps you should realize that you have a life to live now and that every day is important. Why wait until you realize what you have lost before you start to appreciate what you have?

What can you do? Nothing! You can just be as normal as you always have. Your genuine warmth and words of support have been a great comfort to me. Some people have said, “We are all terminal!” and that’s where the box of chocolates comes in. I am sure they are just trying to say something which is helpful. I am sure we are all terminal only not everyone faces a predicted expired date. You can’t say anything that changes my situation. You can just be there like you always have.

I am quite content. I really am. I feel very calm and I will fight on not because I suddenly discovered the need to fight. I have always been a fighter. I have always had an opinion. I will now use that argumentative strength and opinion for me.