Time

Today I went back to Physical Therapy for the first time since my trip back East. It felt good to have the massage and I also got to talk to her about some of my lymphedema questions. She is an amazing therapist and one with not only great knowledge but great compassion. Something that I think some Health Care professionals struggle at having. Since my trip, I noticed that the lymphedema has gone further down my arm and that is a concern. I was gone only 2 weeks and I was diligent in doing my massages and wearing my arm wrap but...to no avail. I am discouraged because how long will it take me to find out about the lymphedema draining suit that I am trying to get, so I can do the therapy in my home each day instead of going to the hospital. It has been almost 6 months since we first applied to get it, then we were rejected last month and now we are trying to appeal that. TIME....maybe for them (the insurance company) it hasn't been very long, but to the survivor suffering from this...the TIME seems to be lasting forever. I can't just not worry about it, it won't go away and if not managed it can get worse. It is not like my lymph nodes will ever grow back. I think this is part of the stuff that survivors have to worry about on a daily basis, doesn't really seem fair but ...it is life with cancer.

The good news today was that I got to spend time with Jeff, he had the day off and so we just spent the whole day together. That was TIME well spent and one that seems to heal me.

I loved this poem on TIME, we all have the same amount, but some days it seems less or more than others...depending on what is going on in your life and in your heart. It was just a great reminder to me to remember this check list and see how I am spending my TIME each day!

So thanks for all the TIME  you have shared with me in my life. Good night!

Take Time

(Author Unknown)

Take time to think. Thoughts are the source of power.

Take time to play. Play is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to read. Reading is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to pray.  Prayer can be a rock of strength in time of need.

Take time to love. Loving is what makes living worthwhile.

Take time to be friendly. Friendships give life a delicious flavor.

Take time to laugh. Laughter is the music of the soul.

Take time to give.  Sharing brings joy to your heart.

Take time to work.  Work is the price of success.

Take time to dream.  Dreams show you what is possible.

Take time to do your work well.  Pride in your work nourishes the mind and the spirit.

Take time to show appreciation.  It’s the frosting on the cake of life.

 

"TIME IS FREE, BUT IT'S PRICELESS. YOU CAN'T OWN IT, BUT YOU CAN USE IT. YOU CAN'T KEEP IT, BUT YOU CAN SPEND IT. ONCE YOU'VE LOST IT YOU CAN NEVER GET IT BACK." ~Harvey MacKay

"DON'T COUNT EVERY HOUR IN THE DAY, MAKE EVERY HOUR IN THE DAY COUNT"

"TIME IS TOO SLOW FOR THOSE WHO WAIT, TOO SWIFT FOR THOSE WHO FEAR, TOO LONG FOR THOSE WHO GRIEVE, TOO SHORT FOR THOSE WHO REJOICE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO LOVE, TIME IS ETERNITY." ~ Henry Van Dyke

Don't forget to read the fine print

Last year, I had a ticket to go back east to visit a few dear friends. Just a few weeks before my visit, I had to do a recheck on a previous mammogram that I had prior. Those type of things always worry any woman, but are especially worrisome to a cancer survivor. I was had almost made it to my 7 year mark as a survivor. Then on October 31st 2008 I was diagnosed again with Breast Cancer, in the same breast as before. I had to immediately cancel my flight plans and began the long road of fighting cancer once again. When I called the airlines to ask what to do, they told me that my money would be on credit for one year and that I could use it toward another ticket. At that time, I didn't even know how bad my cancer was and if I would even make it for another year. I have to admit when I talked to the Airlines I was still in shock.

Fast forward almost a 11 months later and I am trying to plan once again a trip back East. As I was trying to purchase my ticket yesterday, I found out that my ticket or credit, would expire at the end of September instead of the first of November like I was told. I called and talked to a representative and they explained that the credit is only from the day that you made the reservations, not from the day that your flight was booked. My question was... but how was I suppose to know that and then the famous response came..."did you read the fine print?" I had to go back on my ticket receipt and low and behold there it was in fine print ( I would actually say that it was smaller than fine print, maybe a font size of  - 12 ! Anyway, I asked what I could do they then gave me another number to call today and plead my case. I did this morning and after I faxed over medical proof that I had cancer around that time last year, then they said that they would refund me the money. Of course it would cost me but at least I was able to purchase another ticket and have something wonderful to look forward to.

I really think that life is a lot like those important papers that we get with everything, even on every sale that we see, any special offer ....there is always a FINE PRINT that you need to be careful to look for and read before you get more than you bargained for. I think it is the little things that can make you or break  you in life. I have always told my kids to remember NOTHING IS FREE IN LIFE! When we get something in the mail or a phone call saying that we have won something and we didn't do anything to get it... then there has got to be a catch!  Some fine print that we  haven't read yet. So let's try to remember to do that, pay attention to the little things, both good and bad in our lives, because I think that is where all the difference is!  Good night dear friends!

 

"Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many; the intelligence of a few perceives what has been carefully hidden..."

 

"Small events and choices determine the direction of our lives just as small helms determine the directions of great ships."
-- M. Russell Ballard