Weekly Round Up
Time for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just leave a comment below.
Can you believe this is the last round-up of the first month of this year? Where did that month go? And if you made any resolutions at the start of January, are you still sticking to them? One of the most popular resolutions is that perennial favorite of exercising more. And for many of us, it is, along with diet, the one we are most likely to fall short of. Nancy ponders this very question of why exercising doesn’t come as easily to some of us as it does to others, while Dr Ann Becker Schutte has a thoughtful post on what is behind the resistance that goes on within us when it comes to self-care.
I’ve said this before but one of the things I most love to see in the blogosphere is little glimpses into our other lives (the one that carries on despite cancer) and The Pink Underbelly does this so well. This week we have another tour around her beautiful new home. And a glimpse of a different kind into the Elizabeth’s life. She often writes about her husband, John, and daughter Zoey and the relationship between them. This week John writes a guest post about what Elizabeth means to him. It’s no surprise that she comes across as the same loving, beautiful, kind and wise woman we have already come to know through her writing.
If I was giving out prizes for the most beautiful headline in the blogosphere this week, it would have to go to Philippa for KINTSUKORAI – More Beautiful for Having Been Broken. In her blog she shows us a picture of a delicate bowl with veins of gold through it along with a word and its definition. “The word was completely new to me – kintsukorai. ” writes Philippa “It’s definition was incredibly powerful. It is the art of repairing broken pottery with gold, so that the item becomes more beautiful through having been broken.”
Yvonne was the voice of Ireland last week – a Twitter account which is curated among different users each week. I can’t think of anyone better to carry this honor than Yvonne, who is often the voice of Ireland for me in her blogs, so evocatively does she evoke a time and place that is so familiar to me in her writing.
Elsewhere in the blogosphere…
A wonderfully fresh new look for the Telling Knots blog, even though the writer herself is feeling tired and exhausted , there is something about her new look blog that speaks of hope and light.
Fantastic question from Catherine on how we lean into our lives and what matters to us after cancer.
A very thoughtful exploration on what it means to truly listen to another person’s experience of living and dying on Sarah’s blog.
A post on breast cancer in the military from NoBoobsAboutIt.
A beautiful post honoring our vulnerability and courage by Justine and if you want to see what this looks like in action check out Stacey’s blog on rejection as catalyst.
A guest post by a radiation oncologist on 1 Up On Cancer all about taking supplements.
Debbie has written a guest post for Cure Today on the natural care-giving instinct to look after your family first, sometimes at the risk of your own mental well-being.
Katie is starting a 28-day meditation challenge and invites you to join her.
Good news on Beth’s Mom who had a cancer scare recently, and a realization of just how precious our mothers are.
Finally this week, Audrey is looking forward and looking back on the past twelve months since she left her position at Breakthrough Breast Cancer and I was struck by these words she wrote:
Every change has its gains and losses, time and energy is needed to move through the transition and this has been no different. I have grieved at times and felt joyful at times too.
A fitting reminder to those of us who are going through a time of transition in our lives – change doesn’t come without a mix of emotions, and we must honor those feelings whatever they are. It reminds me of the poem The Guest House by Rumi:
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
Until next week,
Yours with love
Marie xxx
Thank you for sharing the “Guest House” by Rumi… Very true ..
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Great round-up, Marie. Perfect for a Sunday morning and reading over my breakfast. Thank you.
(and I found real bacon at the market yesterday at a Portuguese/Spanish stall. It was bacon and eggs for breakfast. A small thing but oh did it life my spirits 🙂
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Oh but isn’t happiness knowing how to truly appreciate the little things Victoria 🙂
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Marie, thank you, as always, for compiling these blogs. I have a lot of reading to do and can’t wait to read these posts. Thank you so much for including my post in your round up.
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Wonderful Round Up, I have had a lot of catching up to do! Thank you so much for including the gecko. The headline is indeed beautiful, and taken directly from the definition itself 🙂
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As usual, I’m off to do some reading after your round-up. Thank you again Marie for putting this together, and thank you for including my post on leaning in. Based on our tweeting, I’m guessing it slide in right before you clicked publish. I’m so very glad for the timing 🙂 ~Catherine
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What a super round up Marie. i am behind this week and I look forward to catching up on some great reading.
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glad i found this sight ,i to had my last herceptin treatment december 2013,and feel drained and tearfull,had breast lump removed and cemo,radiotheropy herceptin ,but after reading everyones readings on hear ,glad im not alone at feeling this way .
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A very warm welcome to you Janette. I want you to know that you are not alone. What you are describing is something that many, many of us have also experienced. We understand what you are going through and want to offer you our support and friendship here. Please see this as a safe place to express what you are feeling at any time. Warmest Regards, Marie
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Oh darn, looks like my comment didn’t post so I will go again, Forgive if it ends up posted twice. How cool that John wrote for and about him and Elizabeth. How many husbands would do that? His post was sweet and honest. And I too am not happy about people not being around once they hear the c word though I give most the benefit of the doubt that they are busy though it’s disappointing should they not make a point to at least call a coupla times. When they do, though I appreciate all the more. Where I drew the line was with a “friend” who was horribly disparaging and selfish in her words and actions on account of her personal issues.I think most people just continue to be who they were and maybe we are more sensitive after cancer, Or else maybe when something like this happens, who a person is becomes more apparent. After all that blathering, thanks for another great roundup and thanks for including me Marie Tomorrow I will take time to read more of what you pulled together. You always have good judgement and have become our guide. 🙂
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Hi Rachel, it is so cool that John did that – can’t see my own husband doing it – he has no interest in even reading my blog!
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A belated thank you for including me in the Round Up; it’s always an honor. xo
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Thank you, Marie. I’m still catching up today!
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A wonderful round-up again. Thanks for your faithfulness in doing this week after week. xox
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