Weekly Round Up
Time for the weekly round-up of blogs. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you.
I feel I have to point out that I am only human (and incredibly busy!) and I may miss someone’s post during the week, so I rely on you to let me know if I do. I realize that there are many great blogs out there and this is by no means an exhaustive list, but it’s my list of the blogs that I read on a regular basis and also my way of saying thank you to you who take the time to read and comment on my posts and make me feel that I am not writing in a vacuum!
So let’s get started…
Katherine of I hate breast cancer is gearing up for “pinktober” – check out her post on endorsing pink bras. And in “Pinktober comes early..ugh” Lisa of cancerfree2be has been pointing out that it’s not even October and already the world is awash in pink branding!
With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 this past week, Nancy has been reflecting on survivor guilt and Jackie has written a very poignant poem “Choice” to mark the occasion (the last line of her poem in particular is incredibly moving). Jody has also written a moving post and Jan has used the image of the towers as an analogy for life in a beautifully written post. Lauren uses the occasion to reflect on the nature of trauma, something she has written extensively about on After Five Years, and her description of our “experience of trauma” as ” a fingerprint on our psyche” is very striking indeed. The Feisty Blue Gecko is remembering her own significant anniversary – “the day I discovered “the lump” and the day that it all started. ”
Lots of comments and opinions on NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell’s diagnosis of breast cancer, but for me, the discussion on The Pink Underbelly’s blog says it best and I particularly liked Renn’s comments.
I am captivated by the latest idea – The Survivor’s Nest – on Where We Go Now . “One of the most important gifts of cancer I’ve discovered is the realization of how important it is to nurture myself.” writes Debbie Woodbury, by way of introduction to her new series of posts which will combine her passion for interior design with her experience of cancer survivor ship . I am looking forward to seeing where we go now with this one Debbie!
Catherine has been writing about what my old boss used to euphemistically call “women’s troubles” this week, but also that common fear we all have that every twinge, ache and pain may be the start of something more sinister.
Bringing Up Goliath has been playing the cancer card this week in a very interesting post and Anne Marie is getting ready to walk the walk and talk the talk next month when she will be in NYC in advance of the Avon Walk enrolling people to join the Army of Women.
Stephanie has written a lovely post about how the little things can make your day if you know what to look out for!
Sarah of The Breast Cancer Lottery blog has been writing about her experience of The Maggie Cancer Caring Centres, and as someone who found my own local cancer support centre a lifeline, I do agree with her when she says ” I think it is about time the government recognises the importance of these centres and the important service they provide to cancer patients.”
This week I’ve touched on the subject of patient empowerment and what that term means to you, so I was delighted to see that this was also the theme of Tami’s latest post (still time to enter the book giveaway on this!)
I know I get ridiculously excited when Debbie writes a new post, but it’s because she doesn’t get as much time to do this as I would (selfishly like) but when she does..boy is it worth reading, and this week’s is no exception. I love Debbie’s honesty, her gentleness, her wisdom and her compassion. It shines through in her writing and in Cancer Redirected My Mid-Life Crisis, she has written a post that is sure to resonate with so many of us struggling to find the “balance of living the life I want combined with living the life I have created with my husband, daughter, family and friends. The balance of living in the real world where there are societal expectations and responsibilities combined with the desire to be on permanent vacation. The balance of living with a life-threatening disease and just living.”
And finally, Terri, has been reflecting on the best moments of 2011 and sharing some incredible memories with us. This week, I want to finish with some lines from Nadine Stair’s poem, “If I Had My Life to Live Over”, which Terri quotes:
Oh, I've had my moments, And if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
Wishing you all the best of moments this weekend!
Love Marie xxx
Thank you Marie, it turned cold here today so I am looking forward to a big mug of coffee and reading all of these. You do such a good job on bringing them all together.
xo
Lauren
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Have a wonderful weekend Lauren x
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What great timing – sshhhhh, but the internet powers have loosened up here and I should be able to read all of the many blogs featured this week 🙂 What a treat!
Thanks for including the gecko 🙂
Hugs P
x
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🙂
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Thanks for including me again Marie! It’s such a coincidence that we were on the same page this week with our posts! Patient empowerment is becoming a hot topic, and it’s blogs like yours that are helping to encourage this. Great job with bringing us all closer together!
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I was so thrilled to see your post . I learn lots from you too!
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Thanks again Marie – this is my Friday stop over on the way to the weekend. I really appreciate you ’rounding up’ these excellent posts and describing them all so succinctly. And also, I really appreciate you including my writing.
Have a great weekend. The weather here in Canada has turned cold, cold, cold but the leaves are so beautiful with colours, I almost don’t mind the freeze. Take care!
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So good to hear from you Catherine and thank you for your kind words and encouragement (will let you in on a little secret – it takes a fair amt of time each week to put this together, but then I read comments like yours and it’s all worthwhile!) There’s a real nip in the air here too…..
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Between 9/11 and Andrea Mitchell, it’s been a interesting week of reflection. And in the midst of all that, my new series “The Survivor’s Nest!” Thanks so much Marie for including my newest post in this week’s round-up! I am always massively honored and encouraged to see WhereWeGoNow.com listed among such wonderful blogs. I too will be spending this weekend catching up on the few I missed this week. Thanks again!
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And I am really excited to see how your new series works out 🙂
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Thank you, Marie, for providing your round-up again! I am amazed by these bloggers, most of whom I read regularly. I’m definitely going to check out the ones I’m not familiar with, as well. Life got busy (doesn’t it always), and I need to catch up on a lot of the reading.
Thanks for all you do!! I am so glad we crossed paths in the blogosphere!
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I feel the same Beth x
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Marie,
Thank you so much for including me in your weekly roundup. I am honored. And thank you for introducing me to so many wonderful bloggers!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Lisa
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Hi Lisa, it’s a pleasure 🙂
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Thanks, Marie for sharing my Army of Women passion with your followers. YOU have such a strong and respected voice in this community and I am SURE those links to the AOW page will result in some clicks. That’s awesome. I am inspired by everyone in this community and I am determined to prove that there is NOTHING that can stop a group of women who refuse to take no for an answer. I take NO for the answer. This disease has to stop somewhere. It has to stop here with all of us. You rock my world, girlfriend….
AnneMarie
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Go Anne Marie!
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Thank you, Marie; it’s such an honor and a pleasure to have my ramblings featured in your fine blog. I so enjoy the Friday Round-Up and love this community of Cancerchicks!
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Another juicy roundup, Marie! I applaud you and the time and effort it takes to do this compile each week. Your are Awesomeness Incorporated! Thanks for enlightening us with so many unique voices and opinions.
—Renn
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Oh Renn..gee thanks so much for your lovely kind words – it’s all been worth while to have you say that xxx
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Marie, thank you so much for including my guest blogger’s post. I love what she wrote and often forget myself, that our friends, or anyone close to us, really, want to help, but just don’t know how and it’s difficult for them as well as us. So, thank you for helping get her words out there.
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it is always a pleasure Stacey 🙂
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Marie, thank you so much for including my blog in your prestigious weekly round-up. I find fascinating all the different perspectives on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 from breast cancer survivors. This event has really affected us profoundly, in ways we never expected.
XOXO,
Jan
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Even I who is so far away in terms of miles from New York has that memory etched forever in my mind. We also watched in horror here in Ireland as the towers were struck – and of course a large number of Irish worked in the towers too and so we feel a deep connection to that day also.
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