Reflections
Jul 22, 2020
On July 18, 2020, at 7:30 PM, a small group of women sat around a campfire and gave birth to the first video production of Hiking for Healing's "Conversations by the Campfire." "Campfire" is designed to be a relaxing, heart-to-heart, virtual sharing of questions, answers, storytelling, and maybe even some marshmallows and smores.
In writing this Blog entry, I reflected on one of my answers to a question during our first "Campfire." I remembered what I had written a few years ago in my autobiography. The question asked how my journey through Breast Cancer changed me physically, emotionally, and mentally.
That excerpt reads as follows:
"I truly believe that it doesn't matter how many trails I hiked or how many miles I accumulated over the years. What is of value is what I learned, the lessons that were transformed from my life as I know it, and my life as my new beginning (my new normal)! One of the greatest joys and blessings derived from trail time and experience is being able to share the 'stories of the trail' the magical healing energy of the mountains, the lessons of survival, the confidence of depending on myself, and the strength and courage to trust and ACCEPT the SUPPORT of others. And, yes, the wisdom to learn to RECEIVE.
From the passion for sharing what I had learned from the trail, the things that transferred from the challenges on the trail to the new challenges that faced me in finding a new normal after Breast Cancer was born. Hiking for Healing – bridging the gap to a New Normal."
My surgery, a bilateral mastectomy with no reconstruction, took place on April 17, 2017. What I had learned from my hiking experiences, my time on the trail in Mother Nature, and the support and love of my incredible friends allowed what could have been a very sour "lemon" to become the best "lemonade" ever. I genuinely believe that these combined experiences have made me a better person. It has given me the tools to flow through this pandemic in a much calmer and peaceful place.
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