What Inspires you????

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Calleen
Calleen Member Posts: 411
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Ever since I found out I had Cancer I knew I had to do more with my life... I felt like God was trying to get my attention and was putting me on my back so I would look up at him!!! I've always been a very optimistic person and always did things my way... Well Cancer sure stopped me in my tracks and has made me stop and think about what my purpose is and what can I do to make others happy and inspire someone along my Journey.. I know I wouldn't have been as strong if I hadn't let God back into my life... sooo I have 2 things that i feel I've been inspired to do... One is a hobby I used to do on the side for extra money and the other is... Well read...

When I first found out I had cancer I started thinking about all the bills I am going to be responsible for... I'm a single Woman living by myself and don't make very much but enough to get by... I used to make candles up until 3 years ago when I remodled my house... (NOTE: 1 little tile square fell off in the shower in my bathroom which led to me redoing my whole house!!!) anyway I stopped making them because I didn't want the mess anymore in my kitchen and staining my new floor... fast forward to present... before my ex broke my heart he set me up a little candle factory in my garage.. I made a special candle I named "HOPE" it's a jar candle with a silver lid..It's of course pink.. and the fragrance I chose for my Hope candle is a combo of vanilla/cinnamon...mmmm It's really great...I chose a silver lid because it represents the silver lining that's always beneath the surface waiting to be discovered... I sold them at work and lots of my friends bought them ... it has helped pay for many of the co-pays for my Doctor visits... Right now it's on hold until I get better but as soon as I can I'm going to try and sell them to little shops around here...The important thing is that I really enjoy making them and seeing how happy it makes the people who buy them....and of course the compliments are fun too...

My second inspiration came to me before I left work for my surgery... I want to start a Sister program here in our City... my plan is to adopt a newly DX BC Sister and be there for her throughout her journey to help her through all this madness... I wish sooo much I would have had that... I don't know yet how to get started... I'm thinking that maybe by talking to the breast centers and my Doctors.. I also will consult the Nurse who helped me with so many of my questions...

I don't want to dwell and be angry with having cancer... I want to Live and make something more of my life!! I want to leave a lasting impression on my friends and family that I beat the beast and I came out on the other side a different person... a better Mother, grandmother, friend, Aunt, Cousin, Niece, employee.... I want to inspire Hope in others...

Calleen....

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  • zahalene
    zahalene Member Posts: 670
    #2
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    Very admirable, Calleen
    And I agree, if we let him, God will use even something like cancer to bring about good in our lives.
    I was first dx in 1986 at age 38. Had a hubby and 2 young kids. Still got the kids (although they grew up....go figure, and are 35 and 24 now), but lost my hubby to cancer; I got cancer and he got lost. (Sound familiar?)
    Anyway, I turned 61 this summer after 3 cancer dx over a period of 10 years and 15 years in treatment.
    What I did was write. Verse. Not sure it qualifies as 'real' poetry, but it was a way to organize and express what was happening inside me head and heart. I never did sell any of it, just gave it away to family and friends and had some printed here and there. In fact, you can see some of it at PoetryPoem.com under 'Little Temple'.
    But in spite of everything, I am in a good place now and can see how God worked all for good. I come here to try to encourage others to persevere and wait for the good to come to them from something that seems only bad at the time.
    God bless.
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #3
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    zahalene said:

    Very admirable, Calleen
    And I agree, if we let him, God will use even something like cancer to bring about good in our lives.
    I was first dx in 1986 at age 38. Had a hubby and 2 young kids. Still got the kids (although they grew up....go figure, and are 35 and 24 now), but lost my hubby to cancer; I got cancer and he got lost. (Sound familiar?)
    Anyway, I turned 61 this summer after 3 cancer dx over a period of 10 years and 15 years in treatment.
    What I did was write. Verse. Not sure it qualifies as 'real' poetry, but it was a way to organize and express what was happening inside me head and heart. I never did sell any of it, just gave it away to family and friends and had some printed here and there. In fact, you can see some of it at PoetryPoem.com under 'Little Temple'.
    But in spite of everything, I am in a good place now and can see how God worked all for good. I come here to try to encourage others to persevere and wait for the good to come to them from something that seems only bad at the time.
    God bless.

    Calleen and Zahalene
    I admire both of you for seeing the silver lining in the cloud. I am trying my hand at painting (not sure I'm doing to well) but I want to definitly express my journey. They will all be reflective thought pondering pieces and will hopefully inspire some peace and uplifting moods to others traveling this journey. Each painting will be titled and part of a series or theme. Still in the early stages and not sure what I will do with them once completed. But you both inspire me. Not even sure if this will be "my niche" but we'll see. ♥ Pammy
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #4
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    Akiss4me said:

    Calleen and Zahalene
    I admire both of you for seeing the silver lining in the cloud. I am trying my hand at painting (not sure I'm doing to well) but I want to definitly express my journey. They will all be reflective thought pondering pieces and will hopefully inspire some peace and uplifting moods to others traveling this journey. Each painting will be titled and part of a series or theme. Still in the early stages and not sure what I will do with them once completed. But you both inspire me. Not even sure if this will be "my niche" but we'll see. ♥ Pammy

    Both of you are an
    Both of you are an inspiration. And Pammy, painting is a wonderful way to express your journey. You will inspire also with these I am sure.
    I have never worried if my glass is half full or half empty, I am just glad I have the glass. And I never borrow trouble. But I am not sure what I might do to truly help others. I love to do my little poems and hopefully they bring hope, humor and love to all my friends on this board.

    For me, I hope I found an answer,
    Cancer doesn't have me, although I had cancer.
    So raise your spirits high, then higher,
    And find a way to inspire.
    Create a poem, a painting, a song,
    To help your sisters to be strong.
    To give them a vision, a way to speak,
    To find their way to the tallest peak.
    You'll find that if this is what you do,
    It will be returned a hundred fold to you.
    Stef
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411
    #5
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    fauxma said:

    Both of you are an
    Both of you are an inspiration. And Pammy, painting is a wonderful way to express your journey. You will inspire also with these I am sure.
    I have never worried if my glass is half full or half empty, I am just glad I have the glass. And I never borrow trouble. But I am not sure what I might do to truly help others. I love to do my little poems and hopefully they bring hope, humor and love to all my friends on this board.

    For me, I hope I found an answer,
    Cancer doesn't have me, although I had cancer.
    So raise your spirits high, then higher,
    And find a way to inspire.
    Create a poem, a painting, a song,
    To help your sisters to be strong.
    To give them a vision, a way to speak,
    To find their way to the tallest peak.
    You'll find that if this is what you do,
    It will be returned a hundred fold to you.
    Stef

    You all
    Inspire me more than you know!!!

    I forgot to add that I have a theme song that I sing in my head ALOT!!! you can look it up on youtube... it's by "Point Of Grace".. called "How You Live" it's also under "Turn up the Music" the words have brought me alot of comfort and peace....
  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    #6
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    Calleen said:

    You all
    Inspire me more than you know!!!

    I forgot to add that I have a theme song that I sing in my head ALOT!!! you can look it up on youtube... it's by "Point Of Grace".. called "How You Live" it's also under "Turn up the Music" the words have brought me alot of comfort and peace....

    All i can say is what a
    All i can say is what a beautiful person you are.

    laura
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #7
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    Akiss4me said:

    Calleen and Zahalene
    I admire both of you for seeing the silver lining in the cloud. I am trying my hand at painting (not sure I'm doing to well) but I want to definitly express my journey. They will all be reflective thought pondering pieces and will hopefully inspire some peace and uplifting moods to others traveling this journey. Each painting will be titled and part of a series or theme. Still in the early stages and not sure what I will do with them once completed. But you both inspire me. Not even sure if this will be "my niche" but we'll see. ♥ Pammy

    Pammy
    My mom became an accomplished painter after being diagnosed with lung/colin cancer. Painting was a tremendous and uplifting experience for her. We were all left her beauty on canvas to cherish forever and pass down for generations.
    Love, Jackie
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #8
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    Caleen
    You really re such a beautiful person, and I know that one of our lessons from God is to help others who are going through this. I wish I could smell that candel, I bet it is lovely. Did you think of selling some on-line? on a different sight? I would love one.

    I have been helping out a friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. We had not even talked for about 3-4 years, and now we are calling each other a couple times a week. I am helping her change her bandages and with her drain-tubes. I work in a hospital so I get lots of chances to encourage the sick. and I help with church there every sunday...trying to pay it back...I always leave feeling Gods smile on me.

    Love, jackie

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