My Beautiful Village...

One of the scariest parts of this breast cancer journey was making the decision to go public with it. You open yourself up to the unknown. What will people say? How will they respond? Will people disappear? Honestly will they even care? You really don't know how anyone will react. I sure was not expecting the incredible amount of support that has been coming my way. From the moment I pressed POST on Facebook for this blog/website, I have received the most beautiful messages of support and encouragement.

I am very lucky to have always had an incredibly supportive and loving family. Those who know my family, know we are a big group of larger than life personalities who laugh a lot and love each other to the core. When one of us has a fight, We ALL have the fight. So I knew I had a lot of support in my family.

What I wasn't expecting was the huge amount of support from friends, old and new. I didn't realize what a huge village I had. Beautiful baskets filled with the most thoughtful items and handmade creations, packages upon packages have been arriving at my door, messages of support and guidance from others who have also been touched by breast cancer themselves or in their family, prayers from strangers, reiki from family and friends.... and this is just the tip of the iceberg of what I have received.

Its much like attending my own funeral, but in a really beautiful way. I get to really appreciate it. There is a scene in the movie Empire Records ( a 90's movie about young employees that work at a record store. One of my favorites!) where one character is suicidal (yes I know this isn't the same thing but hear me out...) and the rest of the staff have a mock funeral for her so she can hear how the others loved her. There was something really beautiful about that scene that stuck with me and In a weird way this feels very similar.

To My Village: Your words and outpouring of love & support are what has strengthened me through this beginning stages. I wish that everyone that unfortunately may have the same journey, has the same support system. I am a firm believer that you get back what you put out into the universe. I hope I will be able to pay it forward. xoxo