Cancerland can be a very lonely place. Yet thanks to you, mostly it hasn’t been. It’s been full of LOVE.
Some how, despite the trials of chemotherapy, middle of the night clock watching, and a couple of time-stopping episodes of bone pain, the weeks since my initial breast cancer diagnosis have been racing by. It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 2 months since all the Cancer Crazy began, and it’s shocking to me that this Tuesday I’ll be headed up to MGH for my 10th chemotherapy infusion.
Now that I’ve dug my heels into my new vocation as a Cancer Thriver, I’ve come to an even deeper appreciation the power of Community. Specifically the two communities I connect with: best my Nantucket community and my global Yoga Tribe.
I’ve been humbled to no end by the outpouring of love my family and I have felt blanketed in since March. Support has come in so many forms: physical, emotional, spiritual and financial., and there have been donation yoga classes held in my honor here in Nantucket, Fayetteville, NY, Chicago IL and Cambridge, MA.
I couldn’t be moving through all this without your support.
As many of you know, on April 25th, The Dreamland Film & Performing Arts Center hosted my my friends and I for the third time, and all together (with the additional help of musical support from Audrey Sterk and yogic support from Shannah Green) Peter, Floyd and I put on one rockin’ Electric Flow. There were 82 yogis in all: every teacher from the Yoga Room was there, as well as other yoga teachers from as far away as Providence, New Bedford and Chicago, IL. Both Kristen Kellogg and Katie Kaizer were on hand to document the experience. The following slide show is a celebration of that night…
“Every person is defined by the communities she belongs to.”
As many of you know (since I have addressed it publicly here) I have struggled with self-worth over the years. There are times I feel overwhelmed by this incredible love – and question, am I really worthy? But as I wrestle with the side-effects of my cancer treatment, I begin to feel down – I look to this love and my spirit is immediately buoyed. In those moments I think; Yes. Yes I am worthy.
Maybe I had to experience CANCER to accept my worthiness. If that is true, cancer has been worth it.
“We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.”
― Dorothy Day, The Long Loneliness: The Autobiography of the Legendary Catholic Social Activist
I know this level of support is exceptional, for exceptional circumstances. This kind of support is sustainable for a period of time, and then as God wills, it is transferred to someone else in need. No one person is capable of nor meant to hold this kind of light for too long. So while my personal crisis is happening now, I know there will be others in need shortly. I hope to Pay It Forward as quickly and as powerfully as possible when that time arises. This is the beauty of living here on Nantucket, in this amazing community.
We take care of each other.
And if we’ve been lucky enough to be the recipient of this love, we pay it forward.
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Saddle Up Your Hogs and Ride
This year, my old friends in Chicago will be passing along the funds they raise from the upcoming June 23rd 2013 Annual Shawn Koch Poker Run (motorcycle rally). Shawn Koch was a friend, an amazing person, talented musician, loving husband and father, and died after a long battle with brain cancer. This poker run is held every year in Shawn’s memory, and it is an honor to be the recipient of his community’s support.
