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Why We Need To Rebrand Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We all know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s everywhere. There’s no escaping it. The pink ribbons on the cookies, the T-shirts, the cute socks. Almost every newsletter in my inbox is offering sales and discounts or pledging a donation to one of the cancer foundations.
A Son's Story of Losing His Mom To Early Onset Alzheimer's
My mom got diagnosed at 46 with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Truth be told, it probably would have been 2 years earlier, if she’d gone to see a neurologist then. My ex-wife was a nurse at a nursing home in the Alzheimer’s wing. She was the first to notice the symptoms, and bring it to me and my father’s attention.
5 Things I Learned About Grief After Losing My Mom
In theory, I should have been prepared for the grief. We’d known the end was coming, and I’d been the one to get the call that there was nothing left to do. I’d been the one to sign the papers for it, and I’d been the one who had to look her in her beautiful face and tell her it was time for hospice, when she’d been in physical therapy the day before. Besides. It was cancer. What kind of happy ending was I expecting?
5 Things No One Tells You About Cancer
October 2016 is when I realized that pink-washing everything may be vital in fighting this disease, but it was nowhere near enough. Because breast cancer is so goddamn much more than a pink ribbon. Bringing awareness to the disease, and even donating the proceeds to research, doesn’t touch on the lives of the women who are in the trenches. Actually fighting it.
“IT IS WHAT IT IS”
By that time, mom hardly ever made any sense at all. She could still speak, but having any sort of conversation was an act in futility. But she’d still say that stupid fucking mantra, “It is what it is.” Ask her what she wanted to eat, she’d say some mumbo-jumbo and add, “It is what it is,” at the end of the sentence. “How are you feeling, Ma?” Goobledygook, “It is what it is.”
Screw This Shit, I’m Out
For all of my decision making life, I’ve been a people-pleaser. It’s not even something I realized about myself until a few months ago, because it’s such a huge part of who I am.
I’ve always believed you get out of the world what you put into it. If all you put out is anger and negativity, that’s what you’d get back from the universe. But if you put good out there, if you helped others and took care of them, you’d get goodness and light back.
It’s Official. I’m Out Of Spoons.
I know. In theory, my life is perfect. I literally don’t have anything to complain about. I have a husband who adores me and makes
No, I Don’t Have My Shit Together, Thanks.
My first thought was, “Oh, shit, I do not have my life together enough to be a grandmother.”
How To Practice Self-Care While Writing Your Novel
Writer’s block. Self-doubt. Imposter’s Syndrome. Dry spells. It doesn’t matter what you call it, the result is pretty much the same thing: creative burnout.
I Lost My Mom To Breast Cancer
This was MY MOM. No one should have to fight this hard, this long, on so many different levels while knowing it was a losing battle. But do you know how many times I saw my mom cry in almost 5 years? Twice. Once after her metastasized diagnosis, and then the day I had to tell her it was time for hospice. Can you imagine the kind of strength that took? To face every day knowing your fight was ultimately going to be not enough, and this disease would eventually win?
Screw This Shit, I’m Out
For all of my decision making life, I’ve been a people-pleaser. It’s not even something I realized about myself until a few months ago, because it’s such a huge part of who I am.
I’ve always believed you get out of the world what you put into it. If all you put out is anger and negativity, that’s what you’d get back from the universe. But if you put good out there, if you helped others and took care of them, you’d get goodness and light back.
It’s Official. I’m Out Of Spoons.
I know. In theory, my life is perfect. I literally don’t have anything to complain about. I have a husband who adores me and makes
No, I Don’t Have My Shit Together, Thanks.
My first thought was, “Oh, shit, I do not have my life together enough to be a grandmother.”
5 Things I Learned About Grief After Losing My Mom
In theory, I should have been prepared for the grief. We’d known the end was coming, and I’d been the one to get the call that there was nothing left to do. I’d been the one to sign the papers for it, and I’d been the one who had to look her in her beautiful face and tell her it was time for hospice, when she’d been in physical therapy the day before. Besides. It was cancer. What kind of happy ending was I expecting?
“IT IS WHAT IT IS”
By that time, mom hardly ever made any sense at all. She could still speak, but having any sort of conversation was an act in futility. But she’d still say that stupid fucking mantra, “It is what it is.” Ask her what she wanted to eat, she’d say some mumbo-jumbo and add, “It is what it is,” at the end of the sentence. “How are you feeling, Ma?” Goobledygook, “It is what it is.”
5 Things No One Tells You About Cancer
October 2016 is when I realized that pink-washing everything may be vital in fighting this disease, but it was nowhere near enough. Because breast cancer is so goddamn much more than a pink ribbon. Bringing awareness to the disease, and even donating the proceeds to research, doesn’t touch on the lives of the women who are in the trenches. Actually fighting it.
Romance Movies To Watch When You Want To Fall In Love
If you’re anything like me (and you should really kinda hope not, I’m neurotic as hell), you probably have these times when you need to stop everything you’re doing and just watch a feel-good, over-the-top, nothing-will-stop-true-love romance movie. A movie that just makes you fall in love with it.
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