We’ve all heard the message. Every doctor I’ve had during my Pink Dot Detour with Triple Negative Breast Cancer has told me. Your attitude is everything. Your perception matters. You are what you think. Why does it matter? It changes your outcome. People CAN and DO die of broken hearts. People can wish themselves ill. …
Category: Psychology
You Are Getting Sleepy …
Hypnosis has always seemed like a parlour trick for comedians. Years ago, I went to Yuk Yuk’s with friends and watched them make dicks (literally) of themselves on stage while under hypnosis. My friend Terri and I both said “OK, there is no way I could be hypnotized!” Then I sent her this video. We…
It Can Always Be Worse
My feet suddenly slid out from under me, and I crashed down to ground with a “thud”. Stunned, I sat in the thick mud puddle, trying to figure out what the hell happened. Did I break anything? My legs were splayed out to the side and my left hand was buried in the sludge on…
Chemo Brain
At first, I thought it was just the acute stress of my Triple Negative Breast Cancer diagnosis. February 7th … I was on a train heading home, leaning my head against the freezing rain splattered window and crying. My GP had called the day before and said they had an appointment for me to see…
30 New Experiences
Did I post my 1 Second Everyday video here? I know I put it up on Facebook … but #chemobrain has fogged out whether I put it up here. 1 Second Everyday is a phone app which let’s you mash a couple of seconds of video together. The premise is that you take video every…
Yin & Yang in Autumn
Are you familiar with the concept of Yin and Yang? Chinese philosphy describes it as the duality of life. Opposite forces which are really just different sides of the same coin: Dark to Light Female to Male Contracting to Expanding Cold to Hot Water to Fire Earth to Heaven Good to Evil The two contradictory…
Dawn of a New Year – 5778
Shanah Tovah! Yesterday – at sundown – was the start of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. The sun dawned this morning in the new year of 5778 according to the Jewish Calendar. My middle name is Dawn. 5777 signified – to me – a blessed year. Five symbolizes God’s grace. The number five shows…
The Resilience Factor
While once having a deep and philosophical 5-hour telephone conversation with a potential date, we discussed the role of resilience in our lives. He had suffered huge losses. Marriage breakdown with a wife from Japan who wanted to go back, and take their 10-year-old daughter with her. He loved them both enough to say yes….
September Blues
There is something different about a blue sky in September. Perhaps – like polarized sunglasses – the approaching equinox changes the light. The blue deepens. There is less glare from summer heat waves. The sky is cloudless. And empty. And eerie. TIFF – Toronto International Film Festival – was in town, as it always is…
A New Book for University
This young man has had to put his life on hold for me more than once, but these last nine months have been especially trying. My cancer diagnosis has eclipsed the family’s stability. Matt has seen me at my best and my worst. He has sat with friends, wringing his hands, wondering if I would…
My Bite is Worse Than My Bark
Several weeks ago I asked my Oncologist Dr. F to cut my steroid dosage in half. Before receiving chemo, I am pumped up with Pepcid (to inhibit histamine responses in my gut), Benedryl (to prevent allergic reactions) and Dexametheson (a steroid to crush my immune system). The steroids were giving me a bad case of…
Thanks Chester … I owe you more than one life …
In the words of my 19-year-old son “This is the first celebrity death that truly affects me personally.” Me too, Kiddo. When I was Numb from the pain, fear and confusion in my abusive relationship, my world closed in around me … and Chester was there to put the words to my silent scream. I…
Fox Diaries 