Positive things

Positive and inspiring photos, videos, posts, links, etc.

Optimum Health

Image Bea Positive things

In order to get better when we are sick, we have a mandate: to listen to our bodies carefully. The body heals when we listen, nurture, take care and love our body. Healing from cancer is a team effort and I have learned to work in conjunction with doctors and nurses to listen better how my body responds to the medicines and how I feel each day. The difficult part of listening to your body is to allowing yourself to rest without feeling “lazy” or “unproductive”.

Who would imagine that having cancer allows me to love my body like never before. An optimum health is not only accomplished by the amount of medicines or visits to the doctor but also by the amount of love and care we dedicate to ourselves and those who are around us.  

I want to share with you a positive phrase to repeat constantly. The thought is from Louise Hay.
By the way for those that have an iPad, I drew the picture above with an amazing app called Bamboo, super fun!.

Feb 4 – Cancer Awareness Day & a Recipe

Bea All Recipes, Entrées, Positive things , , ,

Today February 4, is the World Cancer Day, a global observance that helps raise people’s awareness of cancer and how to prevent, detect or treat it.

I cannot complain, I have the best care a patient could ever ask for. Yesterday, I had my third chemo and so far so good. The medicines I get are strong. There is one in particular that felt like it was burning my veins. Luckily enough, Lynne increased the amount of saline solution in the IV and I felt better afterwards. Today I only have a small headache but nothing else!. I appreciate your prayers and good vibes that give me strength and reinforce a positive attitude.

Lynne, Jeni -my amazing new friends and nurses – and I share the passion about cooking. Right after coming back from the hospital I couldn’t wait and I made for dinner an easy-to-make and tasty recipe Jeni shared with me. Thank you Jeni!

Couscous Chicken Salad
20 min | 4 servings
Level: Easy

Salad
1 lg chicken breast (or two small)
1 cucumber (remove seeds and dice)
1 pint of grape tomatoes (halved)
1 small can sliced black olives
Diced green onion tops (to taste)
1 box unflavored couscous (substitute with Orzo or pasta)
Feta cheese

Dressing
1 to 1 1/2 cups greek yogurt (to taste)
Couple tablespoons olive oil
Juice & zest of 1 lemon (lima o limon)
Dried mint
Salt & pepper

Grill and/or bake the chicken breasts (season to taste). Dice chicken. Mix the dressing the bottom of a large bowl and add the vegetables and diced chicken. Prepare couscous (pasta or orzo) according to package directions.
Mixed prepared couscous with dressing, veggies, and chicken. Stir in feta and serve either warm or refrigerate and serve chilled.

Cooking tip: After boiled, run the couscous through cold water to separate the grains better. I like Chobani greek plain yogurt which is a good option for this recipe.

Each Day

Bea Positive things , ,

Several of my friends recommended reading You Can Heal your Life by Louise Hay. The book has been a great discovery and it has helped me through this journey. Louise Hay is a strong woman who has gone through unimaginable challenges. Mrs. Hay is also a cancer survivor who has assisted thousands for people in discovering self-healing and personal growth.

Her inspiring words have changed the way I see life in general; I feel better about myself more, I do not sweat the little things, I say “thank you” more often, I laugh more frequently, I give more, and love life each day more.

Also I have learned that keeping a positive attitude and repeating encouraging phrases helps to go through any challenging situation. Each time I receive chemotherapy I think about how the medicines are working and healing me. I know that If I avoid negative feelings such as sadness or fear I will be ok. Our minds can do wonders. Here is one of those encouraging phrases

From Louise Hay

Bea Prepared

Bea Positive things

Most people know that one of the common side effects of chemotheraphy is hair loss. I have known this myself from everything I’ve read and from being told what to expect by my experienced nurses at Johns Hopkins.  Since my first treatment I’ve expected the worst – that I will lose my hair. Since then I have been trying to mentally prepare for the day when I start seeing my hair falling out. Today was that day.

This morning I noticed that what the nurses told me to expect is real. My hair is officially starting to fall out. Not a lot for now, but most definitely it is happening.  For the last couple of days I have been thinking about cutting my hair all at once since I don’t want to see how it falls out. I am not personally worried about how my Sinead O’Connor hair style will look like, but I am worried about the reaction of others and I don’t want this to make me sad.

I guess I am prepared for the hair loss. I have hats, scarfs and a few wigs. In fact, my husband was surprised by how good the wigs look; he said they really resemble my hair (same color and cut). One of the wigs has long hair which is a great opportunity for me to have longer hair for a bit  and look more glamorous 🙂  If nothing else, I could always rip my wig off and scare random people.

On a related note, Dave needs a haircut and I have been trying to get him to let me cut his hair with new clippers.  So far he is hesitant and making excuses to avoid me cutting his hair . I have insisted that I  have enough knowledge to do it. I have watched several Youtube videos and have read the clipper instructions; what else do I need, really? Even if it goes bad, he always has my wigs. I am prepared.

 

The Fight

Bea Positive things , ,
A great view of the aqueduct in Segovia, Spain during our honeymoon.

In our lives we face different challenges; some of those challenges mean that we have to fight. The fight is present at work, at home, or with ourselves.  Most of the time, we have the opportunity of choosing the fight; yet, some fights are unexpected defying our will power, our beliefs, and our entire being. Although I didn’t choose this fight, I have chosen to beat cancer. I know that I cannot give up and I am aware that some days I will be stronger than others, but I have to keep fighting with all the resources and tools I have been blessed with. 

In recent days, I joined a facebook group called the Lymphoma and Hodgkin’s Survivors and Awareness Club. Ann, a survivor wrote the following paragraph about fighting and never giving up:

“We decide the first day of our cancer diagnosis whether we are going to be a victim or a survivor. We decide to muster up all are strength to fight and win. We decide to stay positive and not let cancer define us completely. We decide how we are going to handle each day that we are fighting cancer. Yes, there are bad days and good days, but your attitude determines your every day. Hold on to your hopes, dreams, faith, support system and your determination to win because in the fight against cancer we cannot give up”

Tomorrow Friday I have my second chemo and I am ready for it, I feel strong and I have been feeling well in the last weeks.

I am a very lucky girl for having my incredible husband David on my side. Dave makes this fight a fun adventure. I love you, mi amor!

Thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts!!!

A Video about Kindness

Link Bea Positive things

This is a great video. When we are kind to others good things happen to us and the people around us.
A quote from the video: “Kindness is what keeps the world afloat” and it sure does!.
 

Born to try (cover) – Delta Goodrem

Link Bea Positive things

Delta Goodrem is an australian singer that I like. Not only she has a beautiful voice and great songs but she is a Hodgkin’s survivor. An inspiration to me.
I like singing, I put together this short video of one of Delta’s songs: Born to try.
Love, Bea

Monkey slippers

Bea Positive things ,
Monkey Slippers

Kathy (my mother-in law) and Dave acompanied me today to the chemo session. In preparation for my first treatment, I did research beforehand in books, blogs and websites about what to expect in terms of the chemo itself and side effects.

The nurses at Johns Hopkins (JH) are amazing and make everything much easier. In fact, the treatment was not as tiresome and uncomfortable as I was expecting, so far so good…. I feel great today.

When we came back from JH, I had a nice surprise. A dear friend, her husband and beautiful daugther sent to me a “recovery kit”. This weekend I am relaxing and enjoying the kit that includes a pair of monkey slippers socks since my friend’s daughter likes comfy socks and monkeys, so this is the perfect combination. I love them!

A thoughtful recovery kit!. Thank you Jill

I am very fortunate. I am grateful for having incredible friends and family that inspire me to stay strong and positive all the time.

Thank you for your prayers 🙂
.

A beautiful flower

Image Bea Positive things

I love flowers. Today a dear friend from work gave me this beautiful flower. Tomorrow, Friday the 6th, is an important day for me not only because it is the “Three Kings Day” in Mexico but I am starting my chemo treatment. I must say that I am really looking forward to the later because I know the combination of science, love, mind, faith, soul and nature do wonders towards recovery.
I trust that my doctors and the nurses at Johns Hopkins are the best in their field. Everything is ready for a successful day.
Thank you for your good thoughts, nice comments, phone calls and good vibes. I am really grateful for your prayers, it means the world to me.

A photo of my desk with a beautiful orchid from a dear friend from work. .

A Happy New Year

Bea Positive things
Jose, Bea & Tere.

After spending a wonderful Christmas in Illinois with family, my parents arrived on
December 26 to spend some time with us and welcome the New Year together. We had a great time in the Baltimore-DC area. It was the first time that my mom visit DC and she loved the city and its amazing monuments.

Thank you mom and dad for spending time with us and celebrating a new year. Thank you also to the Sullivan family for the wonderful New Years’ celebration, we love you guys!

The 2012 started full of blessings.

  
Tere & Jose at Baltimore, MD
Tere & Jose at Lincoln Memorial
 
Me infront of the White House. I had a little accident on my thumb, but you can see that I am doing great!