The Beautiful Things

Doc_Hawk
Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
edited July 2012 in Colorectal Cancer #1
One thing that cancer has given me is a greater appreciation for the simple but beautiful things in life. In the evenings I enjoy going outside and reading while enjoying the night air. The past two nights, however, I've been distracted from reading by sights that are truly breathtaking and really made me realize what it means to "live in the moment." Last night, at about 4 AM, for the first time that I can remember, I watched the Moon set behind a butte to the west. Clouds in the sky made the light reflect off of it in an orange/red and as it sank behind the landscape it looked like a giant hot air balloon slowly deflating until the final red was gone. Tonight, clouds again made it look more red than orange as it hung high in the sky. As the clouds shifted, it became more yellow before darkening back to a deep red. It was so beautiful, floating in the air that it filled me with a great but simple joy.

After a few moments, I decided to come back inside and share this with you all and to also ask for others to share with us some simple thing that you may find that is so lovely that it fills you with serenity. So often during our day we think of this monstrous thief which has taken so much from us. Let us also share those beautiful things that touch us in a simple, yet profound way.

Doc/Ray

Comments

  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #2
    Being More Aware
    Ray, that's one of the great side effects some of us experience! I've always loved Nature but one sometimes gains a new appreciation or sees things through "new eyes" after a life-changing event. I've gotten into photography a lot more after my dx 8 years ago. I always have a camera with me (not the phone one) and will often stop my car to watch a sunrise or sunset or check out some clouds or SunDogs...

    I posted a question a few years ago asking if cancer was all bad, many responses surprised me but many realized the wake up call and woke up.
    :-)
    Good post!
    Savor Mother Nature...
    -phil
  • JayhawkDan
    JayhawkDan Member Posts: 205
    #3
    I enjoy
    everything I do, more than ever . . . at least the fun, or even mundane stuff. Going out on the deck and looking at the stars at night. Having dinner with the family. Seeing a beautiful 3-day-old niece (yesterday). Anticipating my own first grandson in about a month. In some ways the regular things are more enjoyable than the "big" stuff . . . the type of stuff I do once a year, such as an annual "guy" trip to a cousins cabin in the Colorado Rockies. Did that a couple of weeks ago (couldn't go now because of the fires!) The "annual" stuff always makes me wonder how many more of these I will be able to enjoy. Try not to, but you know how the mind works. So, it's the "living in the moment" things, the wonders of nature, time with loved ones, that I enjoy the most. Also...reading encouraging -- and tales of courage -- threads on this board. I don't post a lot and have only been going through this for 5 months, but I appreciate everyone on here that takes the time to give their thoughts and experiences to help us all cope, and understand better what we're all going through. Dan
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #4
    JayhawkDan said:

    I enjoy
    everything I do, more than ever . . . at least the fun, or even mundane stuff. Going out on the deck and looking at the stars at night. Having dinner with the family. Seeing a beautiful 3-day-old niece (yesterday). Anticipating my own first grandson in about a month. In some ways the regular things are more enjoyable than the "big" stuff . . . the type of stuff I do once a year, such as an annual "guy" trip to a cousins cabin in the Colorado Rockies. Did that a couple of weeks ago (couldn't go now because of the fires!) The "annual" stuff always makes me wonder how many more of these I will be able to enjoy. Try not to, but you know how the mind works. So, it's the "living in the moment" things, the wonders of nature, time with loved ones, that I enjoy the most. Also...reading encouraging -- and tales of courage -- threads on this board. I don't post a lot and have only been going through this for 5 months, but I appreciate everyone on here that takes the time to give their thoughts and experiences to help us all cope, and understand better what we're all going through. Dan

    Me Too..
    but many only see the curse and victimization aspect of it.
    Could I do without cancer? You betcha!
    But I accept it and get what I can from it since it's also taken things from me.
    Since attitude is SO much of the equation, why not try to have a good one when one can...

    I'm not telling people what to do, do what you want so please don't anyone misconstrue my views...
  • tommycat
    tommycat Member Posts: 790 Member
    #5
    PhillieG said:

    Me Too..
    but many only see the curse and victimization aspect of it.
    Could I do without cancer? You betcha!
    But I accept it and get what I can from it since it's also taken things from me.
    Since attitude is SO much of the equation, why not try to have a good one when one can...

    I'm not telling people what to do, do what you want so please don't anyone misconstrue my views...

    Me too
    That's how I feel too...might as well be happy when I can. It makes me feel better and more in control of my life when I chose how I feel.
    And it's contagious......:)
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    #6
    Great post Doc. I have
    Great post Doc. I have always loved nature and also carry my camera around. But the cancer thing has fine tuned my appreciation. I pit a pic. on my about me page. may add a few more.
    Great Idea.
    Hugs, '
    Judy
  • barbebarb
    barbebarb Member Posts: 464
    #7
    jjaj133 said:

    Great post Doc. I have
    Great post Doc. I have always loved nature and also carry my camera around. But the cancer thing has fine tuned my appreciation. I pit a pic. on my about me page. may add a few more.
    Great Idea.
    Hugs, '
    Judy

    Pics and happiness
    Love your post Tommycat and all the others.
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #8
    PhillieG said:

    Being More Aware
    Ray, that's one of the great side effects some of us experience! I've always loved Nature but one sometimes gains a new appreciation or sees things through "new eyes" after a life-changing event. I've gotten into photography a lot more after my dx 8 years ago. I always have a camera with me (not the phone one) and will often stop my car to watch a sunrise or sunset or check out some clouds or SunDogs...

    I posted a question a few years ago asking if cancer was all bad, many responses surprised me but many realized the wake up call and woke up.
    :-)
    Good post!
    Savor Mother Nature...
    -phil

    Photography
    I've started using my cameras a lot more as well. My point and shoot is a 15 MP so it's used more for shots where clarity matters and my DSLR is for action shots. I even still have an old Pentax 35mm that I like to use for black and white photography.
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #9
    jjaj133 said:

    Great post Doc. I have
    Great post Doc. I have always loved nature and also carry my camera around. But the cancer thing has fine tuned my appreciation. I pit a pic. on my about me page. may add a few more.
    Great Idea.
    Hugs, '
    Judy

    wow
    Great sunset pic, Judy. I bet it's heaven sitting in that Jacuzzi with a cold drink watching the colors in the sky change and deepen.
  • danker
    danker Member Posts: 1,276 Member
    #10
    tommycat said:

    Me too
    That's how I feel too...might as well be happy when I can. It makes me feel better and more in control of my life when I chose how I feel.
    And it's contagious......:)

    Me too
    Only you can make you happy or sad. In film STIR CRAZY, GENE WILDER was being punished by being chained to ceiling and floor. When they came to release him he said " Can I stay a while longer? My back has never felt so good." Lol We wouln't recognize the good days if we didn't have some sad ones to compare them to. LIVE LIFE TO THE HILT AND BE HAPPY
  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #11
    Doc_Hawk said:

    wow
    Great sunset pic, Judy. I bet it's heaven sitting in that Jacuzzi with a cold drink watching the colors in the sky change and deepen.

    The natural world...
    is part of what keeps me going during this long, hard battle. I have the good fortune to live surrounded by beautiful mountains, lakes and salt water, and have spent every half-way healthy moment outdoors. For me, it's like going to church...it replenishes my spirit and I appreciate that more now than ever.
  • relaxoutdoors08
    relaxoutdoors08 Member Posts: 521 Member
    #12
    Love Nature and the Outdoors
    I agree with all of you that cancer dx makes one stop and enjoy the moment. I enjoy sitting by the Lake watching a beautiful sunset. I enjoy sitting on the swing watching a beautiful moon over the lake as I listen to the loons. A beautiful sunny day makes me feel optomistic about my health. Love the healing warmth of the sun. I get a "lift" and boost of energy that last the day. Wishing you all that warm healing feeling.
    NB
  • jjaj133
    jjaj133 Member Posts: 867 Member
    #13
    Doc_Hawk said:

    wow
    Great sunset pic, Judy. I bet it's heaven sitting in that Jacuzzi with a cold drink watching the colors in the sky change and deepen.

    Oh yeah, we do it often, sit
    Oh yeah, we do it often, sit in the Jacuzzi I mean. ; ) bahahahah
  • dmj101
    dmj101 Member Posts: 527 Member
    #14
    I am a little unsure.. about stuff like this
    However.... someone told me recently.. i seemed a little softer.. may be I have been guarded alot and a little tough (Jersey/New York Area) got to be here in Jersey..
    but I noticed it too.. I perfer to see my glass half filled more often lately..
    Could that be Gods plan to make us stop and see and think more positively.. I don't know.. but I too see things I never saw before.. for me its not so much nature as it is people.. and their smiles and hearts...
  • thxmiker
    thxmiker Member Posts: 1,278 Member
    #15
    The Important things in life....
    Good for you Ray! Many of us needed to take a step back and realize what is important in life. Is the latest Ball Score important, or witnessing a beautiful Moon set?

    We moved to the Mountains to enjoy life more. We gave up some of life's conveniences to live a more fulfilled life. We had Elk eating our plums in our front yard in the early morning. How cool is that to watch Elk from 10 feet away? (3 Meters) We now eat dinner on the porch and watch the sun set. When it snowed, we went to the park and walked in the quiet of the snow fall.

    Again, Good for you!
    Best Always, mike
  • JayhawkDan
    JayhawkDan Member Posts: 205
    #16
    thxmiker said:

    The Important things in life....
    Good for you Ray! Many of us needed to take a step back and realize what is important in life. Is the latest Ball Score important, or witnessing a beautiful Moon set?

    We moved to the Mountains to enjoy life more. We gave up some of life's conveniences to live a more fulfilled life. We had Elk eating our plums in our front yard in the early morning. How cool is that to watch Elk from 10 feet away? (3 Meters) We now eat dinner on the porch and watch the sun set. When it snowed, we went to the park and walked in the quiet of the snow fall.

    Again, Good for you!
    Best Always, mike

    I don't know, Mike...
    regarding your comment about the importance of the latest ball score -- depends on whether or not the Jayhawks are playing... ;-)
  • smokeyjoe
    smokeyjoe Member Posts: 1,425 Member
    #17
    JayhawkDan said:

    I don't know, Mike...
    regarding your comment about the importance of the latest ball score -- depends on whether or not the Jayhawks are playing... ;-)

    Nice post :)

    Nice post :)
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #18
    JayhawkDan said:

    I don't know, Mike...
    regarding your comment about the importance of the latest ball score -- depends on whether or not the Jayhawks are playing... ;-)

    Sports scores
    Since one of my colleges is in England and the rest are too small to get any sort of national attention, I just don't follow collegiate sports. Only pro sport that I do watch is NFL and there's just not enough dedication in any of "my teams" to really get my knickers in a twist over them. Reckon that's one of drawbacks to moving around all the time during childhood. Now if the 49ers ever get a real team again, then that'll be a different story!
  • JayhawkDan
    JayhawkDan Member Posts: 205
    #19
    Doc_Hawk said:

    Sports scores
    Since one of my colleges is in England and the rest are too small to get any sort of national attention, I just don't follow collegiate sports. Only pro sport that I do watch is NFL and there's just not enough dedication in any of "my teams" to really get my knickers in a twist over them. Reckon that's one of drawbacks to moving around all the time during childhood. Now if the 49ers ever get a real team again, then that'll be a different story!

    The only thing
    I get wound up about -- sports-wise -- are my Kansas Jayhawks. KU is where I met my wife and where my only child graduated from last year. She was also on the dance team, so it was a real kick to see her on national TV on occasion. It's not life and death (no pun intended) but following KU sports is one of the things that brings joy to my life. And now that KU Med is about to receive NCI status -- maybe they will also have a hand in saving my life. Good thoughts.... Dan
  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    #20
    JayhawkDan said:

    The only thing
    I get wound up about -- sports-wise -- are my Kansas Jayhawks. KU is where I met my wife and where my only child graduated from last year. She was also on the dance team, so it was a real kick to see her on national TV on occasion. It's not life and death (no pun intended) but following KU sports is one of the things that brings joy to my life. And now that KU Med is about to receive NCI status -- maybe they will also have a hand in saving my life. Good thoughts.... Dan

    Our Cabin
    I love to get out of this city with it's 110+ heat and almost daily drive by shootings. Although our little mountain community is much more populated than it was 40 years ago, at least it's surrounded by beautiful mountains and trees. I just ignore the old crabby neighbor next door.

    In younger days, we used to wilderness hike and not see another human. Now, we drive on the forest roads to see the animals and beautiful country. I love to go fishing, too. It's funny how our interests change as we get older. Back in my teens, it was way too boring to go to the cabin because there was "nothing to do". LOL

    Unfortunately, my hubby now has great difficulty breathing and getting around at the higher altitude, so I'm afraid our "paradise" will become "lost" all too soon.

    Luv,

    Wolfen
  • YoVita
    YoVita Member Posts: 590 Member
    #21
    Beautiful things
    Thank you for this post. For me, gardening (when there's enough rain) and sitting on the porch with my dog watching the world go by.

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