Weekly Round Up: The Being Vulnerable Edition

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.

Reading your blogs and putting together this round-up each week, I often see a common theme emerging in the blogosphere. This week I noticed a recurring theme of sharing personal stories which highlight our shared humanness and vulnerability. Rosie writes of how hard it is to accept help when you are used to doing things for yourself;  Justine‘s blog on infertility is always so honest and frank; Beth shares her experience with PTSD after cancer and what helped her overcome it; both Nancy and Jan write of the isolation and loneliness that accompanies cancer, particularly Stage IV; Stacey‘s post on what cancer has taken from her is heartbreaking; Rebecca‘s honesty in writing about her parents is to be admired;  Audrey and Caroline Lee share posts on depression; Sharon on survivor guilt; and finally Laurel writes about dealing with grief.  I am so grateful to all of you who have the courage to own your stories and share your vulnerability with us in this way; for to quote Henri Nouwen: “Sharing vulnerability opens up the possibility  of a healing connection around the commonality of human woundedness.”

Elsewhere in the blogosphere….

Those of you who are reading this blog outside of the UK/Ireland may be shocked to learn that a certain UK newspaper regularly features topless women on their pages and that a campaign to ban the “Page 3” topless images is gathering pace on Twitter. Sarah weighs in on the debate with some great points to make.

Excellent advice from Barbara on cultivating patience on the journey towards wellness.

Wonderful post by Susan Guber on the lexicon of cancer.

Elizabeth is bringing out her inner Mona-Lisa.

Margaret wonders if Tamoxifen is causing nerve pain.

Chloe celebrates the end of chemo and Claudia her 5 year remission date.

A warm welcome back to the blogosphere to the Pink Underbelly.

Dee shares three principles to live life by.

Two posts on mindfulness this week from Dawn and Ciel.

Andy ponders if billboard advertisements for cancer centers influence decision-making.

A stunning pictorial timeline of hair loss, growth and shining glory on Kimberly‘s blog.

Some helpful advice from Tami on how she handles stress.

Katy, Caroline,  Jen  and The Malignant Ginger write of the insidious nature of cancer and how we can never be sure it is done with us.

Chelsey responds to those who tell her it’s time she forgot about her cancer.

Beautiful post on Susan’s Uppity Cancer Patient blog on hope.

The Cancer Curmudgeon on allowing herself and encouraging others to do cancer their own way.

I love that both Knot and Catherine  chose to write about a normal good day on their blogs this week.

Are you single and ready to mingle? Eileen has a book recommendation for you.

Yummy recipe for Tomato Salad with Sumac on the Pink Kitchen blog.

Finally this week, and continuing the theme of sharing our stories, I leave you with a quote from Helen‘s blog:

 Until next week,

Yours with love

Marie xxx