Weekly Round-Up: The New Year’s Eve 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. 

So we’ve made it to the close of another year together, though heart-breakingly, we haven’t all made it. The fabric of our online community has been torn apart by such painful losses this year. How much more loss can we bear? I don’t even want to think about the answer to this, because the losses are just too much for us to bear.. alone. Alone we could not bear them, but together we must. Let’s recommit this year to our continued support of each other in our joys and sorrows. Each and everyone of you is so precious to me and I want to thank you for your friendship over this past year.

Now on with the round-up – the final one of the year!

I long ago gave up on making New Year’s Resolutions – I never stuck to them and would beat myself up about my lack of commitment. As Karin writes: “Why waste time and energy on half-baked resolutions when your heart is not really in it? Why rebuke yourself for ‘failure’, when what you set out to change was not realistic in the first place?” As with so many things in life, you need a strategy if you are going to make meaningful New Year’s Resolutions, and Karin has just the advice for this in her latest blog.

Do you remember how and when you found out you had cancer? I bet you like me can remember it like it was yesterday. That moment indelibly etched on our brain, as Beth’s latest post conveys so well.

Perhaps for some of you reading this, your breast cancer diagnosis is more recent, and for you, Nancy has some words of comfort which we can all take to heart

To those of you who are wondering how you are going to make it through this holiday season because you’re grieving, are newly diagnosed, are undergoing harsh treatment or struggling for whatever reason, may you have moments of peace, light and contentment.

Elizabeth reflected on a quieter Christmas this year.

Much gratitude to Dr Elaine Schattner for keeping us updated on the latest developments in cancer treatment this past year. This week she looks forward to some of the key cancer treatment trends we can expect to see in 2018.

If you have celiac disease in your family, you won’t want to miss Becky‘s latest post.

Congratulations to Dee on her 10th blogoversary – that’s some achievement and shows such a wonderful commitment to her advocacy work.  And congrats also to JoAnn for five years blogging – another super achievement. It’s not always easy to keep up a blog. We start with great intentions but many fall by the wayside along the way.  So it’s worth celebrating our commitment. Long may you continue to blog!

Super informative post from Dr Attai on cognitive dysfunction after chemotherapy.

An apt reminder at this time of year from Connie that sometimes we have to let go to move forward.

As Barb ponders the year past, she plans “to continue to live with grace and gratitude and to keep looking for the tender mercies” and advises me do the same too.

A barn-stomper of a post from AnneMarie to close out this year. It’s been a horrible year for her but she is ready to face the new year “walking boldly, fearlessly, authentically and honestly into the next, releasing that pause button and at last, I begin the process of turning myself outward.”

Finally this year, I leave you with inspirational words by Ralph Waldo Emerson via Stephanie‘s blog:

What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.  And when we bring what lies within us out into the world, miracles happen.

Until next year,

May something wonderful and miraculous lie ahead for you in the new year,

Yours with much love always,

Marie xxx