Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. - Zig Ziglar
Life, as demonstrated by nature, is characterized by duality. To understand joy, one must experience sadness. Strength cannot be appreciated without acknowledging weakness; pleasure is only understood as having had pain. Through trials and tribulations, we gain a profound appreciation for the moments of happiness, allowing us to recognize that the most challenging paths sometimes lead to beautiful destinations.
Today, on my journey to live life over cancer, I finally returned to the familiar comfort of the swimming pool. After a break of many years due to a frozen shoulder, I finally returned to the local pool today and swam 1600 meters. The sensation of swimming through the water, completing a lap, and turning at the wall was akin to the comforting embrace of coming home.
During the previous spring and summer, any form of movement was accompanied by excruciating pain. It took me quite some time to realize that my bones were being weakened by the cancer, resulting in the unfortunate fracture of one of my ribs.
Upon receiving my diagnosis, my oncologist made a medical plan consisting of three components: strengthening my bones, eliminating estrogen receptors, and directly attacking cancer cells. While the journey has been far from easy, I have found comfort in the small victories that have emerged.
I am sharing this win to ask us all to look for potential silver linings in our challenges. These small wins give us the energy, strength, and resilience to move forward. It is crucial to maintain faith in our ability to attain achievements and know that beautiful destinations are within our reach.
I think the silver linings are there for all of us. We just have to look for them and you have a way of finding them at every corner these days. You are living each day to the fullest, silver linings in tow.
Beautiful sentiments with every blog entry! I have been reading your posts regularly, and today I finally took the step to join as a member. So moved by your words, Betty Jean. You are, and always have been such a strong woman. You are an inspiration💕.
Always read your posts with equal measures of awe and affection. Always send you such big hugs.