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OVdialogue – consider joining our team in the role of Peer Support Volunteer. Over a few hours each week, you would be part of a team that helps connect people, support conversations and are thought leaders for OVdialogue. This is your opportunity to give back to those who have/continue to support you through the tough times, share your unique experiences, and help celebrate successes. For more details of what this entails, please reach out to @Mfallis (mfallis@ovariancanada.org).
Book
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Strongwoman
Moderator
My good friend dropped a book off to me today which I thought might be helpful to any one of you. It is entitled "No Cure For Being Human" by Kate Bowler
This book "hit home" for me. I believe it was "the right book at the right time".
I received info last week from my latest CT scan that it showed NED which is fantastic but still I had and still have lingering thoughts and reflections of this disease and my journey.
A little excerpt from the book that I found fitting to "our" situations:
"....tradition has special language for our three experiences of time: tragic, apocalyptic, and pastoral.
Tragic time is the grand theories. The problem of evil has swept away the illusion that all things will be made right, and suddenly we wonder at the goodness of the world.
Apocalyptic time is related but not identical. The veil has been lifted and we see ourselves on the brink. Systems are irredeemable broken and injustice reigns.
Pastoral time is marked by the seasons, the sowing and reaping and herding that keeps the land tilled and the herds fenced."
I believe we go through these 3 stages from the onset of symptoms/diagnosis to the final outcome. I know I wondered "why" "why me" "what's next" "what will the outcome be" "will I make it". How can I keep everyone together and solid through this while receiving the support I need?
In another part of the book that hit home for me was "This body was my home. No matter how hard I try, that's gone."
I, for one, have felt this. I am not sure I know the answer to this. Accepting what the new norm is.....what activities can I return too? Will I have the strength to do it without getting fatigued. Scars are scars.....I believe it is a reminder of what we have overcome.
Another part of the book says, "We're never done dear. Even when we're done, we're never done."
I think this best explains....why we go on, why we try that next step/treatment/trial drug. Why we would choose to have more chemo or radiation? Why if we are at end stages, we make choices that will live on in memories?
For those questioning things at the early on stage, to those finishing treatment and facing possible recurrences....I truly hope you will read this book and be more at peace with it all. I had tears reading some of it as it rang true in so many ways but the book is hopeful at the same time.
The final quote I will leave with is:
"We do too much, never enough, and are done before we've even started."
I think that about sums it up.💕💕
This book "hit home" for me. I believe it was "the right book at the right time".
I received info last week from my latest CT scan that it showed NED which is fantastic but still I had and still have lingering thoughts and reflections of this disease and my journey.
A little excerpt from the book that I found fitting to "our" situations:
"....tradition has special language for our three experiences of time: tragic, apocalyptic, and pastoral.
Tragic time is the grand theories. The problem of evil has swept away the illusion that all things will be made right, and suddenly we wonder at the goodness of the world.
Apocalyptic time is related but not identical. The veil has been lifted and we see ourselves on the brink. Systems are irredeemable broken and injustice reigns.
Pastoral time is marked by the seasons, the sowing and reaping and herding that keeps the land tilled and the herds fenced."
I believe we go through these 3 stages from the onset of symptoms/diagnosis to the final outcome. I know I wondered "why" "why me" "what's next" "what will the outcome be" "will I make it". How can I keep everyone together and solid through this while receiving the support I need?
In another part of the book that hit home for me was "This body was my home. No matter how hard I try, that's gone."
I, for one, have felt this. I am not sure I know the answer to this. Accepting what the new norm is.....what activities can I return too? Will I have the strength to do it without getting fatigued. Scars are scars.....I believe it is a reminder of what we have overcome.
Another part of the book says, "We're never done dear. Even when we're done, we're never done."
I think this best explains....why we go on, why we try that next step/treatment/trial drug. Why we would choose to have more chemo or radiation? Why if we are at end stages, we make choices that will live on in memories?
For those questioning things at the early on stage, to those finishing treatment and facing possible recurrences....I truly hope you will read this book and be more at peace with it all. I had tears reading some of it as it rang true in so many ways but the book is hopeful at the same time.
The final quote I will leave with is:
"We do too much, never enough, and are done before we've even started."
I think that about sums it up.💕💕
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Comments
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@Strongwoman thanks for sharing!0
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@Strongwoman I echo @kastoyles thank you for sharing that resource with all of us. I think you've hit the nail on the head with your statement....'the right book at the right time'.
It's often hard to find resources, and while nothing is perfect for everyone, knowing something is out there that was helpful to a fellow Teal Sister is always welcome.
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@Strongwoman, thank you for sharing! Going through a cancer journey is a very unique experience and not something that most of us have actually contemplated before we found ourselves on it. We have so many questions...so any emotions. So it's great when we find something that truly resonates with us. Will put this on my reading list for sure. Thanks again for taking the time to share.0
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Thank you, @Strongwoman, for sharing! I would also like to share a book that made a profound impact on me: “The Power of the Now” by Eckhart Tolle. I liked it so much that after reading it as e-copy, I bought a paper version and keep it on my night table, re-reading it once in a while.2
