Weekly Round-Up: The Year Edition

Welcome back, dear readers, to the first round-up of 2025! As we embark on this new year, many of us may be reflecting on resolutions. However, several voices this week offer alternative approaches.

Carolyn suggests focusing on “self-care promises” instead of traditional resolutions. Abigail and Philippa continue their annual tradition of choosing a three-word mantra to guide their year. Jennifer also opts for a single intentional word, while Dee shares her wish list of aspirations for the year ahead.

Sue Robins, a leading voice for patient advocacy, shares her insights on the challenges of navigating a healthcare system that increasingly marginalizes the perspectives of those with lived experience. This critical issue was explored in a recent podcast with Sue, Terri, and myself. Learn more on Terri’s website.

Nancy reminds us that the pressure to achieve significant milestones after a cancer diagnosis is unrealistic and potentially harmful. “Reclaiming and maintaining your life and sanity,” she writes, “will be profound enough.”

Barbara emphasizes the importance of respecting a cancer patient’s autonomy and allowing them to make their own informed medical decisions. True compassion, she argues, lies in providing unwavering support and emotional comfort, not in dictating treatment plans.

Beth poignantly reflects on the silencing of her voice, both in her past and during her breast cancer journey. The loss of control during medical treatments deeply resonated with past experiences where her opinions were disregarded. However, through her art, particularly her “Breast Cancer, Female and Young” series, she has found a powerful way to reclaim her voice and express her experiences.

Yvonne grapples with the concept of hope in a world facing numerous challenges, from war and environmental crises to political uncertainty. While it might seem naïve, she argues that hope is essential for action and resilience.

My latest Substack essay explores the interplay between personal identity and illness. I’d welcome your thoughts on this topic over on Substack.

Finally this week, Connie shares her process of reflecting on the past year and preparing for the year ahead. This led her to discover a valuable insight from Mark Pettit of Lucensi Consulting, a time management expert: “Learning to be intentional means choosing to take action on the things that are important to you. Living with intention means you consciously choose to create the life you want, rather than having other people dictate your feelings and action.”

What a great intention, a “self-care promise” to quote Carolyn, to carry with us as we step forward into a fresh new year.

Until next week,

May you live with intention and grace,

Yours in love and light,

Marie xxx