Finding Balance

[louis...@yahoo.com]

Balancing uncertainty and possibility can be challenging after going
through a cancer diagnosis. Like a pendulum swaying back and forth I
have seen times in my life where fear of the unknown has weighed
heavily and the pendulum has stayed in that direction far longer than
I would have liked. At those times, I have found attempting to force
the weight back to neutral and beyond to hope and possibility very
difficult. Experience has taught me that eventually the pendulum does
swings back, but I may not be in control of when or what may trigger
that shift.

Something that provides me with hope and confidence is trusting in our
body’s innate ability to restore wholeness and rejuvenate itself. In
the book "The Art of Being a Healing Presence", author James E. Miller
suggests that healing is rooted in the source of life itself. It is
the original act of creation taking place again and again in our
bodies and minds, in relationships and in life’s accomplishments. It
is this same act that takes place each time we reach out to another in
reverence and openness. And, it is what happens each time someone
responds.

Acknowledging this biological and spiritual creative process as a
constant cyclical pattern, gives me hope. This thought leads me to
believe I can gently guide myself through the more difficult times by
choosing to focus on what brings me joy and fulfillment. This thought
also reinforces the importance of community and the healing power of
connecting with those who share my experience.

I applaud each of us that has gone through an illness and found a way
to understanding that life’s possibilities are ever present and are
the thoughts worth savoring, leading to actions worth living.